Duodenal Indentation

Duodenal impressions

Description of the phenomenon Duodenal impressions are called **pathological changes at the site of the transition of the greater curvature of the stomach into the duodenum.**

This name is due to the fact that the depression zone follows the shape of the duodenum. Normally, in this part of the stomach, muscle tissue is better developed than in other parts, since it takes part in the entire digestion process. But under the influence of various factors, the muscle layer weakens and a duodenal ulcer appears.

Sometimes depressions are the first sign of **gastric achalasia**, a disease characterized by impaired gastric motility. Also among the factors contributing to the occurrence of duodenal depression is **Sjogren's syndrome - inflammatory changes on the surface of the mucous membrane of the stomach, esophagus and other organs**.

Like other defects in the walls of the stomach and duodenum, duodenal indentations are often observed in patients with alcoholism and drug use. They also affect children, especially young girls who have not reached puberty. The disease often develops after long-term use of potent drugs or as a result of chemotherapy. In addition, patients with vascular diseases of the brain are at risk: hypotension, hypertension, atherosclerosis, head injuries.

In the depression zone you can see a **hole** through which the acidic contents of the stomach are evacuated. A **lighter shade** of the fabric may also be noted in the transition area. Typically, indentation is characterized by the presence of **red blood vessels and small hemorrhages** as with normal gastritis.

Palpation reveals painful sensations of varying intensity, from moderate to severe. Pain is characteristic of most diseases associated with depressions in the gastric walls. Thus, any diagnosis when a duodenal depression is detected in a patient must be confirmed by additional diagnostic methods. If, according to a blood test given in the laboratory, the patient has **iron deficiency anemia**, then ulcerative damage to the walls of the stomach is diagnosed. With the simultaneous presence of pus in the area of ​​gastritis, concomitant pathology is determined, such as cholecystitis, cholangitis.

Among the most common symptoms are upset and heartburn, occasional nausea, vomiting of bile or acid, headaches and dizziness, irritability, and depression. Mostly the pain persists in the upper half of the abdomen, but sometimes it is localized near the sternum. The intensity depends on the degree of exacerbation: while inflammation is present episodically, the pain is moderate; with constantly recurring inflammation, the pain is severe and the symptoms greatly worsen a person’s quality of life.

If we talk about the causes of pain due to duodenal indentation, the first is gastroesophageal reflux. Initially, the symptoms relate to heartburn, but over time they are supplemented by signs of inflammation. These may include mild nausea, belching,