Diagnostic Errors in Duodenal Ulcers
Abstract
Duodenal ulcers remain a significant clinical challenge due to overlapping symptoms and radiographic ambiguities. In a five-year study (1964–1968) at Ankara University, 273 patients were surgically treated for suspected duodenal ulcers. However, in 36 cases (13.18%), intraoperative findings failed to confirm the diagnosis. The study investigates common reasons for diagnostic discrepancies, including insufficient clinical history, inadequate laboratory evaluations (such as lack of 12-hour night acid secretion test), and reliance on inconsistent radiological interpretations. The authors emphasize a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach, repeat imaging in suspicious cases, and preoperative consideration of alternative pathologies.
Keywords
Duodenal ulcer, Diagnostic error, Radiological misinterpretation, Acid secretion test, Surgical confirmation, Peptic ulcer disease
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