[Acute gastroduodenal ulcer in adults: ultrasonography patterns]

Acute gastroduodenal ulcer in the adult is usually diagnosed with endoscopy and conventional radiology, but some literature papers indicate the better yield of ultrasonography (US) relative to other conventional exams. Our series consisted of 12 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer diagnosed with US on the first visit; 5 ulcers were in the gastric antrum and 7 in the duodenal bulb. We diagnosed a characteristic "target" US pattern caused by hypoechoic thickening of the walls surrounding the irregular hyperechoic lumen in 10 patients. Another US pattern was also detected in one patient with erosion of the first layers of the gastric antrum wall, with preserved deep layers, and in another patient with duodenal bulb ulceration and associated intestinal perforation with liquid pooling under the liver. All diagnoses were confirmed with endoscopy and conventional radiology. We aimed at investigating US adequacy as the diagnostic method of choice in patients with acute abdominal symptoms and suspected abdominal ulcer where US can show the characteristic signs of disease and help refer the patient to other more specific diagnostic exams as soon as possible.