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MDCT diagnosis of gastroduodenal ulcers: key imaging features with endoscopic correlation

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Abstract

Although the overall prevalence of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and related hospitalizations are decreasing, the initial presentation of complicated PUD on CT remains common. It, therefore, remains critical for radiologists to recognize the findings of PUD at CT for initial diagnosis. While the CT findings of complicated PUD have been previously described in the literature, the CT findings of uncomplicated PUD have not been well documented. Furthermore, although CT is certainly not the diagnostic evaluation of choice for patients with suspected uncomplicated PUD, many patients with PUD will nonetheless present to the emergency department with unexplained abdominal pain and undergo MDCT evaluation as the initial diagnostic test. Therefore, recognizing the MDCT findings of uncomplicated PUD can help appropriately direct patient management, and help prevent the development of complications. To facilitate improved recognition of PUD on abdominal CT, we present an overview of the CT findings of both uncomplicated and complicated PUD, as well as several diagnostic pitfalls which can result in misdiagnosis from peptic ulcer mimics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53792, USA

    D. R. Kitchin, M. G. Lubner & P. J. Pickhardt

  2. Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    C. O. Menias

  3. Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

    C. S. Santillan

Authors
  1. D. R. Kitchin
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  2. M. G. Lubner
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  3. C. O. Menias
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  4. C. S. Santillan
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  5. P. J. Pickhardt
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Correspondence to D. R. Kitchin.

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Kitchin, D.R., Lubner, M.G., Menias, C.O. et al. MDCT diagnosis of gastroduodenal ulcers: key imaging features with endoscopic correlation. Abdom Imaging 40, 360–384 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-014-0207-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-014-0207-9

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