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

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) prevalence and hospitalizations are declining.
• Complicated PUD presentations on CT scans remain common, necessitating radiologist recognition.
• CT findings for uncomplicated PUD are less documented than for complicated PUD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of CT findings for both uncomplicated and complicated PUD.
• To improve the recognition of PUD on abdominal CT scans.
• To highlight diagnostic pitfalls and potential misdiagnoses from peptic ulcer mimics.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on CT findings in PUD.
• Analysis of CT scans demonstrating uncomplicated and complicated PUD.
• Identification and description of common diagnostic pitfalls.

Main Results:

• CT findings for complicated PUD are well-established.
• CT findings for uncomplicated PUD are less consistently documented but crucial for early diagnosis.
• Several mimics can lead to misdiagnosis if not carefully considered.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing CT findings of PUD, including uncomplicated cases, is critical for initial diagnosis and management.
• MDCT evaluation is often the initial diagnostic test for patients with unexplained abdominal pain, making PUD recognition important.
• Improved understanding of CT findings can prevent PUD complications and guide appropriate patient management.