Gastric ulcer; benign

Alternative names:

benign gastric ulcer; peptic ulcer; peptic ulcer disease; stomach ulcer; ulcer

Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
  • May wake the person at night
  • May be relieved by antacids or milk
  • May occur two to three hours after a meal
  • May be worsened by not eating
• Nausea or vomiting, especially vomiting blood
• Indigestion
• Weight loss
• Fatigue.

• Sharp, sudden, persistent stomach pain.
• Bloody or black stool.
• Bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Signs and tests:

• An upper GI series showing a gastric ulcer.
• An endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and biopsy showing a benign gastric ulcer -- since a small percent of gastric ulcers are caused by gastric cancer, it is vital to undergo these tests that will check for cancer.
• An H. pylori test, if ulcer is found; H. pylori can be diagnosed through a blood, breath, or tissue test.