The radiographic appearance of erosive duodenitis: a radiographic-endoscopic correlative study.

We studied 12 patients who had had endoscopically proved erosive duodenitis and a radiographic examination of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract, which had been performed within 2 weeks of endoscopy. Radiographic criteria for erosive duodenitis were established by two radiologists and consisted of spasm, thickening of duodenal folds, erosions, and ulcers. Using these criteria, two other radiologists interpreted the radiographs of the 12 patients with duodenitis 15 others with normal duodenums, and five with pancreatic disease. They made correct diagnoses for eight of the patients with erosive duodenitis, nine with normal duodenums, and three with pancreatic disease. A third radiologist interpreted only the 12 misdiagnosed radiographs; he was correct only for three cases of duodenitis. Analysis of these results show that radiographic diagnosis of erosive duodenitis can be made only in advanced disease.