Duodenum, multiple peptic ulcers, gross
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This gross photo was taken at the pylorus, with the stomach on the left and the duodenum on the right. Several ulcers are seen. If these become severe, they can perforate the bowel, and air could be seen under the diaphrams on an upright chest x-ray. This is a surgical emergency. The ulcers could also erode into the pancreas. The latest thinking is that ulcers may be infectious, caused by an organism called Helicobacter pylori. However, histamine-2 blockers such as Tagamet are still used, in combination with antibiotics.