How Are Ulcers Diagnosed?

In addition to doing a physical examination, the doctor will take a medical history by asking

about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family's health, any

medications you're taking, any allergies you may have, and other issues. If you have stomach

pain or other symptoms of an ulcer, the doctor will perform some tests to help make the

diagnosis.

One test is called an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. This is a type of X-ray of the

stomach, duodenum, and esophagus, the muscular tube that links the mouth to the stomach. A

person drinks a whitish liquid called barium while getting an X-ray, and if he or she has an

ulcer, it should be outlined on the X-ray.

Another common procedure to look for an ulcer is called an endoscopy (pronounced:

en-dass-kuh-pee). During this test, the doctor uses an endoscope, a skinny, lighted tube with

a special camera on the end.

A person getting an endoscopy is given anesthesia and will have no memory of the procedure.

For an endoscopy, the doctor gently guides the endoscope into the throat and down into the

esophagus, and finally into the stomach and upper intestines. The doctor is able to look at

the inner lining of these organs from the camera on a television screen and can even take

pictures. Tissue can be removed during an endoscopy and then tested for H. pylori bacteria.

A doctor can also do a blood test for H. pylori bacteria. This may be important if an ulcer

is found in the upper GI series. The blood test can be done right in the doctor's office.

Sometimes a bowel movement or a person's breath can also be specially tested to check for the

H. pylori bacteria.