Could you please explain to me what the pylorus is? What does it mean when doctors say the pylorus is deformed?

W.S.

The pylorus is the narrow opening that leads from the stomach to the first portion of the small intestine (duodenum). The pylorus has a muscular ring in its wall that enables it to regulate the flow of food particles into the small intestine. If the pylorus does not function properly, it can prevent the stomach from emptying. Among the conditions that can affect the pylorus are ulcers and tumors. Patients who develop disease at the pylorus typically experience abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting, especially after meals.

Patients who have suffered ulcers or erosions at the pylorus may develop scarring at the pylorus after the lesions have healed. This scar tissue may give the pylorus an irregular appearance that may be described as "deformed" by a doctor performing an endoscopic exam. Generally, when a doctor sees a deformed pylorus endoscopically, he or she takes tissue samples and sends them to a pathologist to make sure the abnormal appearance is not due to cancer. A deformed pylorus may also be detected by a radiologist during X-rays of the upper digestive tract.