Introduction
The controversy goes on unabated as to the management of patients with gastric ulcer. Even though, in recent years, some progress is evident toward a more positive approach to this lesion, there still remains a great deal of uncertainty and prolonged procrastination on the part of both the physician and the surgeon as to deciding on the safest method of management.
Introduction
In many other areas of the body, where the diagnosis is uncertain, the physician is not as hesitant to recommend a surgical procedure which will provide the tissue necessary for a microscopic diagnosis. The current rationale of watchful waiting with a gastric ulcer, which may be malignant, is more hazardous than that of performing a surgical procedure. The latter not only will establish a diagnosis but will in most instances provide treatment which is curative. The delays encountered by medical observation ofttimes lead to great socioeconomic loss, worry,