Accuracy of Radiologic and Endoscopic Diagnosis of Duodenal Ulcer

Abstract

On the basis of results of barium examination and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy four diagnostic criteria of duodenal ulcer can be formed: 1) radiography reveals an ulcer, 2) endoscopy reveals an ulcer, 3) both radiography and endoscopy reveal an ulcer, and 4) radiography and/or endoscopy reveals an ulcer. In a consecutive series of 156 patients the accuracy of each of the four diagnostic criteria was determined using the findings of an experienced specialist in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as a reference. The predictive value of a positive diagnosis (PV_pos) for the four diagnostic criteria was 0.63, 0.88, 1, and 0.68, respectively, and the predictive value of a negative diagnosis (PV_neg) for all four criteria was around 0.90. The selection of diagnostic criteria should therefore depend on the clinical problem.