How often does peptic ulcer produce "typical" ulcer symptoms?
Subjective symptoms of 876 hospitalized patients who underwent upper fiber-panendoscopy were evaluated in a prospective study. Ulcer-like symptoms were defined as pain-like discomfort with a regular food-related rhythm. These symptoms indicate ulcer disease with high specificity (96%) but low sensitivity (28%). In particular old patients with second disease rarely have ulcer-like symptoms. In spite of their high specificity, however, ulcer-like symptoms are not proof of active ulceration. Patients with scars but no ulcers may also have ulcer-like symptoms.
D000368:Aged; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis