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“A peptic ulcer is a sore or a break in the tissue that lines your stomach or small intestine,” explains Dr. Leah DeCoste, MD, a gastroenterologist with Gastro Health in Acton, Massachusetts ...
A large hiatal hernia. Two x-rays from the same examination. On lying down (A) more stomach slides above the diaphragm than when upright (B) Note constriction of stomach at diaphragm level. Cameron lesions. A long linear erosion and smaller non-linear erosions on the crests of inflamed gastric folds at the level of the diaphragm.
Peptic ulcer disease is when the inner part of the stomach's gastric mucosa (lining of the stomach), the first part of the small intestine, or sometimes the lower esophagus, gets damaged. An ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer , while one in the first part of the intestines is a duodenal ulcer . [ 1 ]
The ulcer is known initially as a peptic ulcer before the ulcer burns through the full thickness of the stomach or duodenal wall. A diagnosis is made by taking an erect abdominal/chest X-ray (seeking air under the diaphragm). This is in fact one of the very few occasions in modern times where surgery is undertaken to treat an ulcer. [3]
There may be no symptoms but, when symptoms are present, the most common is upper abdominal pain (see dyspepsia). [1] Other possible symptoms include nausea and vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite and heartburn. [1] [2] Complications may include stomach bleeding, stomach ulcers, and stomach tumors. [1]
Cancer of the stomach is difficult to cure unless it is found at an early stage (before it has begun to spread). Unfortunately, because early stomach cancer causes few symptoms, the disease is usually advanced when the diagnosis is made. [80] Treatment for stomach cancer may include surgery, [81] chemotherapy, [13] or radiation therapy. [82]
However, stomach acids are needed to digest proteins, vitamin B 12, calcium, and other nutrients, and too little stomach acid causes the condition hypochlorhydria. [ citation needed ] The PPIs are given in an inactive form, which is neutrally charged ( lipophilic ) and readily crosses cell membranes into intracellular compartments (like the ...
Treatment of the condition depends upon the underlying cause; it can involve antibiotic treatment when Helicobacter pylori is related to an ulcer, [1] endoscopic therapies (such as dilation of the obstruction with balloons or the placement of self-expandable metallic stents), other medical therapies, or surgery to resolve the obstruction.