Disease or Syndrome
peptic ulcer
pep·tic ul·cer [ pep-tik ul-ser ]
Subclass of:
Duodenal Diseases;
Stomach Diseases
Also called:
Duodenal ulcer; Gastric ulcer; Stomach ulcer; Ulcer
Definitions related to peptic ulcer:
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A break in the lining of the lower part of the esophagus, the stomach, or the upper part of the small intestine. Peptic ulcers form when cells on the surface of the lining become inflamed and die. They are usually caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria and by certain medicines, such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Peptic ulcers may be linked to cancer and other diseases.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A mucosal erosion that occurs in the esophagus, stomach or duodenum. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and bleeding.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A mucosal injury that occurs in the stomach or duodenum.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom. The pain Starts between meals or during the night; Briefly stops if you eat or take antacids; Lasts for minutes to hours; Comes and goes for several days or weeks. Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse. To see if you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will test your blood, breath, or stool. Your doctor also may look inside your stomach and duodenum by doing an endoscopy or x-ray. Peptic ulcers will get worse if not treated. Treatment may include medicines to reduce stomach acids or antibiotics to kill H. pylori. Antacids and milk can't heal peptic ulcers. Not smoking and avoiding alcohol can help. You may need surgery if your ulcers don't heal. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A raw, crater-like sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum that causes burning stomach pain.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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An ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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Local defect produced by the sloughing of inflammatory necrotic tissue that occurs in the regions of the gastrointestinal tract which come into contact with gastric juice; occurs when there are defects in the mucosa barrier; common forms of peptic ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori and the consumption of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Ulcer that occurs in the regions of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT which come into contact with GASTRIC JUICE containing PEPSIN and GASTRIC ACID. It occurs when there are defects in the MUCOSA barrier. The common forms of peptic ulcers are associated with HELICOBACTER PYLORI and the consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A peptic ulcer is an erosion in a segment of the gastrointestinal mucosa, typically in the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the first few centimeters of the duodenum (duodenal ulcer), that penetrates through the muscularis mucosae. Nearly all ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use....Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Gastric and duodenal ulcers usually cannot be differentiated based on history alone, although some findings may be suggestive (see Diagnosis). Epigastric pain is the most common symptom of both gastric and duodenal ulcers.WebMD, 2019
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Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is stomach pain.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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A break in the mucosal lining of the stomach or duodenum more than 5 mm in diameter, with depth to the submucosa. Ulcers smaller than this or without obvious depth are called erosions. Peptic ulcers result from an imbalance between factors promoting mucosal damage (gastric acid, pepsin, Helicobacter pylori infection, nonsteroidal...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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Peptic ulcer, lesion that occurs primarily in the mucous membrane of the stomach or duodenum (the upper segment of the small intestine); it is produced when external factors reduce the ability of the mucosal lining to resist the acidic effects of gastric juice (a mixture of digestive enzymes and...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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