[The therapeutic acetazolamide test in the differentiation between beign and malignant ulcer]

The inhibitory action of acetazolamide on the gastric secretion and its favorable effects in the treatment of gastric ulcers being known, we have applied the therapeutic test with acetazolamide in differentiating benignant from malignant gastric ulcers. The inhibiting pharmacoagent was administered orally in doses of 25-30 mg/kg of body weight. Two hundred and forty-two (242) patients presenting a crater in the radiological image. The fundamental criteria was the size of the crater observed in the radiological examination. In all the cases of gastric ulcer the size of the cavity was considerably reduced after 7-9 days of treatment with acetazolamide, disappearing after about 2-3 weeks. The favorable evolution was obtained in the absence of special diet or bed rest. In 16 cases in which no radiological modifications in the cavity appeared after 7-9 days of treatment, the malignant nature was confirmed. Because of its simplicity and the efficiency of its results, the method can constitute a quick therapeutic test in the differentiation between a benign and a malignant cavity.