What test is definitive for the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease?

The definitive test for the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease is upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This procedure allows direct visualization of the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, enabling the physician to identify and assess the presence, location, and severity of ulcers. In addition to visual inspection, endoscopy facilitates the collection of biopsy samples if necessary, which can be important for ruling out malignancies or assessing other gastric conditions.

Though other imaging techniques such as abdominal ultrasound or CT scans can aid in the assessment of abdominal pain and detect complications of ulcers, they do not provide the direct and comprehensive evaluation that endoscopy does. Gastroscopy, while often used interchangeably with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, typically refers more specifically to the endoscopic examination of the upper GI tract, ultimately making upper gastrointestinal endoscopy the more precise term encompassing the technique used for diagnosing peptic ulcers.