Endoscopy is the test that can confirm a duodenal ulcer. In this test a doctor looks inside your stomach and duodenum by passing a thin, flexible telescope down your oesophagus. They can see any inflammation or ulcers. (See leaflet called 'Endoscopy' for details.)
A test to detect the H. pylori bacterium is usually done if you have a duodenal ulcer. If H. pylori is found then it is likely to be the cause of the ulcer. A separate leaflet gives more details about H. pylori and how it can be diagnosed. Briefly, it can be detected in a sample of faeces, or in a 'breath test', or from a biopsy sample taken during an endoscopy.