24066              CHRONIC DUODENAL ULCER

The patient was a woman aged 86 who was admitted to hospital after collapsing at home.  Later the same day she had a massive melaena and haematemesis.  She was transfused but died next day.

The specimen consists of the lower portion of the stomach, the duodenum, the pancreas and spleen.  There is an oval chronic peptic ulcer measuring 3 x 2 cms on the posterior wall of the duodenum.  It has smooth regular edges and the floor penetrates the pancreas.  Some fragments of blood clots are adherent in the floor of the ulcer, and there is a small hole which may represent the bleeding point.