HOW OFTEN DOES PEPTIC-ULCER PRODUCE TYPICAL ULCER SYMPTOMS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (1) , 57-61
Abstract
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 secondary diseases rarely have ulcer-like symptoms. In spite of their high specificity, ulcer-like symptoms are not proof of active ulceration. Patients with scars but no ulcers may also have ulcer-like symptoms.