ulcer

(ŭl'sər)
n.

1. A lesion of the skin or a mucous membrane such as the one lining the stomach or duodenum that is accompanied by formation of pus and necrosis of surrounding tissue, usually resulting from inflammation or ischemia.
2. A corrupting condition or influence.

[Middle English, from Old French ulcere, from Latin ulcus, ulcer-.]

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A lesion on the surface of the skin or a mucous membrane characterized by a superficial loss of tissue. Ulcers are most common on the skin of the lower extremities and in the gastrointestinal tract, although they may be encountered at almost any site. The diverse causes of ulcers range from circulatory disturbances or bacterial infections to complex, multifactorial disorders. The superficial tissue sloughs, leaving a crater that extends into the underlying soft tissue, which then becomes inflamed and is subject to further injury by the original offender or secondary infection.

Peptic ulcer is the most common ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract and refers to breaks in the mucosa of the stomach or the proximal duodenum that are produced by the action of gastric secretions. It is still unknown why peptic ulcers develop. However, with rare exceptions, a person who does not secrete hydrochloric acid will not develop a peptic ulcer. Ulcers of the stomach tend to develop as a result of superficial inflammation of the stomach. These individuals tend to have normal or decreased amounts of hydrochloric acid. By contrast, most individuals with peptic ulcers of the proximal duodenum secrete excessive amounts of acid. Importantly, a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, has been isolated from the stomach of most people with peptic ulcers and is thought to play a causative role. Although stress has been anecdotally related to peptic ulcers for at least a century, serious doubt has been cast upon this concept. See also Inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis is a disease of the large intestine characterized by chronic diarrhea and rectal bleeding. The disorder is common in the Western world, occurring principally in young adults. Its cause is not known, but there is some evidence for a familial predisposition to the disease.

Other ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract are caused by infectious agents. Bacterial and viral infections produce ulcers of the oral cavity. Diseases such as typhoid, tuberculosis, and bacillary dysentery and parasitic infestation with ameba lead to ulcers of the small and large intestines. Narrowing of the arteries to the legs caused by atherosclerosis, particularly in persons with diabetes mellitus, often causes ulcers of the lower extremities. See also Arteriosclerosis; Bacillary dysentery; Diabetes; Tuberculosis.

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A crater-like lesion of the skin or a mucous membrane resulting from tissue death associated with inflammatory disease, infection, or cancer. Peptic ulcers affect regions of the gastro-intestinal tract exposed to gastric juices containing acid and pepsin: gastric in the stomach and duodenal in the duodenum. Usually treated with antagonists of histamine receptors or inhibitors of gastric acid secretion. Often caused by infection with Helicobacter pyloris.

An erosion of an epithelial surface — the skin, or any of the internal linings (mucous membranes) that are in continuity with the skin at the body orifices. Damage may be physical, chemical, due to failure of blood supply or to infection. Peptic ulcer may be gastric or duodenal — affecting the mucous membrane of the stomach or of the duodenum, attributed to the effects of stomach acid, either when it is in excess, or when the normal defences against damage from it are lacking; now known to be linked with infection by Helicobacter pylori. Oesophageal ulcer is related to reflux of stomach contents. Underlying blood vessels can be eroded, with consequences that can be either insidious, or catastrophic in the case of peptic ulcers; bleeding is readily evident if blood is vomited (haematemesis), but less immediately so if it moves on down the gut to appear (in an altered state) in the faeces (melaena). Less dramatic bleeding can be detected by a test for occult blood in the stool. At worst erosion may penetrate right through the wall — most commonly of the duodenum — causing a perforated ulcer, and escape of gut contents leads to peritonitis.

Ulceration of the skin can occur on the legs as a complication of varicose veins, or of poor circulation due to arteriosclerosis. Bedsores are ulcers caused by prolonged pressure and immobility. Some types of skin cancers or other skin diseases can form ulcers. Aphthous ulcers are small painful erosions of the mucous membrane in the mouth. Without the protection of an intact surface, ulcers from any cause can become deeper due to injury or infection.

— Sheila Jennett

Lesion or erosion of the skin or mucous membrane (e.g. of the stomach).

KEY TERMS Anemia, anemic—Anemia is the condition in which the blood’s hemoglobin, which is the part of the blood rich in iron, decreases. Antibodies—Proteins in the immune system that help fight disease. Peptic—A description that relates to digestion.

    Demographics
    Causes and symptoms
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    Nutrition concerns
    Prognosis
    Prevention
    Resources

What are Ulcers?

An ulcer is any area of skin or mucous membrane that erodes, causing the tissue to degenerate. In common use, ulcers refer to disorders such as these that occur in the upper digestive tract. They may be called gastric ulcers, peptic ulcers, or simply ulcers.

Description of Ulcers

Gastric ulcers refer to those that occur in the lining of the stomach. Peptic ulcers also can develop in the lower part of the esophagus, the stomach, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), and the second part of the small intestine (jejunum).

Duodenal and gastric ulcers are the most common types. About 80% of all ulcers occur in the digestive tract and are called duodenal ulcers. Gastric ulcers account for about 16% of peptic ulcers. While it was once believed that stress and eating spicy foods caused ulcers, it was later discovered that most ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection. Some foods can aggravate ulcer symptoms.

The body makes strong acids to digest food. A thin lining protects the stomach and intestines from these acids. But if something damages the lining, the acids can reach the stomach and duodenal walls. Ulcers can get larger and cause bleeding.

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(ul-suhr)

An inflamed open sore on the skin or mucous membrane. An ulcer may form in the inner lining of the stomach or duodenum, interfere with digestion, and cause considerable pain.

It used to be thought that stress was the cause of stomach and duodenal ulcers, but we now know that they are caused by bacteria and can be cured by antibiotics.

A local defect, or excavation of the surface of an organ or tissue, produced by sloughing of necrotic inflammatory tissue. They occur in all organs and tissues and are to be found under those headings, e.g. abomasal, corneal, gastric.

• button u. — see button ulcer.
• callous u. — see set-fast (2).
• collagenase u. — a rapidly expanding, erosive (‘melting’) corneal ulcer, seen particularly in brachycephalic breeds of dogs.
• Curling's u. — acute ulceration of the stomach or duodenum seen after severe burns of the body in humans.
• decubitus u. — see decubitus ulcer.
• dendritic u. — linear, branching pattern of ulceration on the cornea; characteristic of herpesvirus infections. See also herpetic keratitis.
• eosinophilic u. — see eosinophilic ulcer.
• gastroduodenal u. — common in foals 1–3 months old. Many are asymptomatic. Clinical cases manifest by mild, intermittent colic. See also gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer.
• geographic u. — a large, superficial, irregularly shaped corneal ulcer, typically formed by the coalescence of several dendritic ulcers.
• indolent u. — see eosinophilic ulcer, refractory ulcer (below).
• infectious dermal u. — a systemic, fatal bacteremia of snakes manifested by multiple, small cutaneous ulcers. Called also scale rot.
• intestinal u. — is rare in all species. When they do occur, intestinal ulcers usually cause signs of chronic enteritis. It is a common lesion in adenocarcinoma of the intestine. See also peptic ulcer.
• lip u. — see eosinophilic ulcer.
• lip and leg u. — see ulcerative dermatosis.
• melting u. — see collagenase ulcer (above).
• u. mound — a gastric ulcer viewed tangentially radiographically creates a mound in the otherwise smooth outline of radiopaque material in the stomach.
• necrotic u. of swine — see ulcerative granuloma of swine.
• perforating u. — one that involves the entire thickness of an organ, creating an opening on both surfaces. See also ulcer perforation.
• phagedenic u. — a necrotizing lesion in which tissue destruction is prominent.
• refractory u. — a chronic, superficial corneal ulceration in dogs, particularly common in Boxers, that extends into the superficial stroma, often undermining epithelium at the edges. The cause is unknown but abnormalities of the basal epithelial cells and anterior stroma have been noted. Response to the usual methods of treatment for corneal ulceration is characteristically very slow; superficial keratectomy is the treatment of choice. Called also superficial corneal erosion syndrome, Boxer ulcer.
• rodent u. — see eosinophilic ulcer.
• stress u. — superficial ulcerations or erosions of mucosa in the stomach, duodenum or colon. The possible predisposing factors include changes in the microcirculation of the gastric mucosa, increased permeability of the gastric mucosa barrier to H+, and impaired cell proliferation.
• stromal u. — a corneal ulcer involving the stroma.
• trophic u. — one due to imperfect nutrition of the part. In dogs, may develop in digital and metatarsal pads in association with tibial nerve injury.

(ul′sur)
n

A loss of covering epithelium from the skin or mucous membranes, causing gradual disintegration and necrosis of the tissues.

For a list of words related to ulcer, see:

• Afflictions and Conditions - ulcer: open, inflamed, nonhealing sore in skin or mucous membrane, esp. in lining of alimentary canal
• Behavior or Personality

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See words rhyming with "ulcer."

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - (gastric ulcer) mavesår, åbent sår

Nederlands (Dutch)
zweer

Français (French)
n. - ulcère

Deutsch (German)
n. - Geschwür

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (παθολ.) έλκος, εξέλκωμα, πληγή, (μτφ.) πηγή μόνιμης ταλαιπωρίας, πληγή

Italiano (Italian)
ulcera

Português (Portuguese)
n. - úlcera (f)

Русский (Russian)
язва (желудка)

Español (Spanish)
n. - úlcera, llaga

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - sår, sårnad, rötsår, skamfläck

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
溃疡, 腐烂物

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 潰瘍, 腐爛物

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 궤양, 병폐

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 潰瘍, 病幣, 病根

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قرحه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮כיב-קיבה, אולקוס, פצע, שחיתות‬

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