Peptic Ulcer

If your symptoms and/or risk factors suggest peptic ulcer disease, a healthcare provider will look for the ulcer in your GI tract. They’ll also want to test you for an H. pylori infection. They might test for these separately or together during an endoscopy exam.

Detailed imaging tests, like a CT scan (computed tomography scan) or GI series X-ray exam, can detect larger ulcers. Tests for H. pylori infection include a urea breath test or a stool test. You might have some of these tests while your provider is evaluating your symptoms.

For many people, an upper endoscopy exam will provide the final diagnosis. An upper endoscopy (or EGD test) goes inside your upper GI tract with a tiny camera on the end of a long tube. During an endoscopy, they can also take a stomach biopsy to test for H. pylori.

Endoscopy is helpful because it doesn’t just show images of your organs, but also allows your provider to access them directly by passing long instruments through the tube. If your ulcers need treatment to stop bleeding, they can treat them on sight.