A peptic ulcer is a breach in the gastric or duodenal mucosa
down to the submucosa. Small or shallow breaches are termed
‘erosions’; whilst sometimes insignificant, these may herald
ulcers. Worldwide, the two most common causes of peptic
ulceration are Helicobacter pylori infection and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin. Other
important causes of gastric ulceration are gastric