The giant duodenal ulcer syndrome.

Thirteen patients with giant duodenal ulcer manifested with a distinct clinical syndrome. The condition has a characteristic clinical, radiological and endoscopic presentation. It is associated with a high mortality when treated medically, and constitutes a definite indication for surgery. The giant duodenal ulcer forms a high proportion of duodenal ulcers in a recently urbanized Black community, and may be one of the dramatic and significant presentations of this disease in the developing countries.