Linear erosions on Kerckring's folds may be diagnostic of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in eight patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) and in 20 patients with stomal ulcer (non-ZES). All ZES patients had hypergastrinemia and a positive secretin provocation test. In three ZES patients studied before gastric surgery, edematous or erosive changes were present in the second portion of the duodenum. In the seven ZES patients studied postoperatively, examination revealed erosive changes in the distal portion of the duodenum and/or upper jejunum. These changes were frequently in a line on the uppermost part of Kerckring's folds. In the non-ZES patients, however, endoscopy revealed no erosive change in the distal part of the duodenum. We propose that such linear erosions on Kerckring's folds may be diagnostic of ZES.