[Use of the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in dyspeptic patients].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Dyspepsia is a common complaint that may signal the presence of diseases like cancer or peptic ulcer. The aim of our study was to assess if the clinical patterns of dyspepsia can be considered a valid guideline for the appropriate use of endoscopy.

METHODS

According to the symptomatological patterns, our 243 patients were defined as sufferers from: ulcer-like (93 patients), reflux-like (25) and dismotility-like dyspepsia (125). Erosive gastritis and erosive duodenitis were regarded as minor inflammatory lesions.

RESULTS

A negative endoscopy (normal or presenting minor inflammatory lesions) was found in 36.6% of ulcer-like dyspepsia patients: this rate was 52% in the reflux-like group, and 49.6% in the dismotility-like one. Duodenal ulcer was the most frequent abnormal lesion in the three groups. The frequency of negative endoscopies was significantly higher in dismotility-like than in ulcer-like (49.6% vs. 36.6%--P < 0.05) dyspepsia. In those patients with dismotility-like dyspepsia under 41 years, the rate of negative endoscopies was 72.7%, and neoplasms were not observed.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that endoscopy could be considered inappropriate for patients under 41 years old with dismotility-like dyspepsia. These subjects account for 18.1% of the patients studied, what could lead to a good percentage of reduction in endoscopic service load.