Natural history of peptic ulcer disease in Poland. V. The process of diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease.

The analysis of the process of diagnosis establishing in peptic ulcer disease in 5813 patients showed that almost all patient had been subjected to radiological examination of the upper digestive tract (99.5%). Endoscopic examination was done in 57.75% of patients, and histological examination of mucosa was performed in 13.28% of them. The secretory activity of the stomach was studied in 61.48% of cases. Moreover, it was found that nearly half the studied patients (43.23%) came to the doctors after more than 6 months from the onset of the first symptoms, and the diagnosis of the disease was established within 2 months after the first visit to the doctor in 58.48% of cases.