DUODENITIS AND DUODENAL ULCER

Abstract

The author studied more than 200 excised specimens both as frozen and as formalin-fixed sections. Some cases diagnosed as duodenal ulcer showed no ul-ceration but a thickened area characteristic of duodenitis. In acute conditions there were lymphocytes, poly-morphonuclear leucocytes, plasma cells and a few eosin-ophils present in the mucosa. Capillaries of the mucosa showed congestion. In chronic conditions there was a distinct hyperplasia of Brunner''s glands with infiltration of scattered lymphocytes and collections of lymphocytes throughout the duodenal wall. The muscularis propria contained some fibrous connective tissue. Blood vessels were sclerosed, the change increasing with the chronicity of the condition. Because similar conditions occur in the process of ulcer development, it is probable that there is a definite relationship between duodenitis and duodenal ulcer.