Imaging Manifestations of Peptic Ulcer Disease on Computed Tomography

Although the overall prevalence of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has decreased in modern times, its actual incidence may be underestimated owing to the nonspecific clinical presentations patients' manifest. The potential lethal complications that can result from PUD include life-threatening abdominal hemorrhage and bowel perforation that result in significant morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography (CT) imaging historically lacks specificity in detecting PUD-related pathology in the stomach and proximal small bowel segments. Therefore, these are potential pitfalls in the radiologist's search pattern on abdominopelvic CT imaging. This article highlights imaging features of uncomplicated PUD on CT imaging in order to allow for early detection of this disease process on imaging and the prevention of potential high-grade complications by recommending esophagogastroduodenoscopy.