5. How can Meckel’s diverticulum cause peptic ulceration? How does this present?
Correct answer:
Peptic ulceration due to contained heterotopic gastric epithelium, which bears HCl-secreting parietal cells. This particularly occurs in children and characteristically is the cause of melaena at about 10 years old. Rarely, the peptic ulcer perforates or gives rise to postcibal pain. The diverticulum may also contain ectopic pancreatic tissue.
