Duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric ulcers. Which statement is true?

• A. Gastric ulcers are four times more common than duodenal ulcers
• B. They occur equally
• C. Ulcers are rare
• D. Duodenal ulcers are four times more common than gastric ulcers

Answer: (D)

Duodenal ulcers are more frequent than gastric ulcers, and epidemiology across many populations shows that they occur about four times as often. This reflects how the duodenum is more susceptible to damage from acid and related factors (like H. pylori) compared with the stomach’s lining, which has relatively stronger defenses. So, the statement that duodenal ulcers are fourfold more common captures the typical pattern seen in clinical practice. The other options contradict this established distribution: ulcers are not equally common, they are not rare overall, and gastric ulcers are not more common than duodenal ulcers.