What condition's symptoms include epigastric pain relieved by food?

The correct answer is a duodenal ulcer. The characteristic symptom of a duodenal ulcer is that the pain often occurs a few hours after eating and is typically relieved by food. This is because food acts as a buffer, temporarily neutralizing gastric acid and providing relief from the pain caused by the ulcer, which is located in the early part of the small intestine immediately following the stomach (the duodenum).

In contrast, gastric ulcers typically present with epigastric pain that is aggravated by eating rather than relieved by it. This occurs because the presence of food stimulates gastric acid production, which can irritate the ulcer and worsen the pain.

Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which leads to heartburn and regurgitation, does not cause pain relief with food. Instead, symptoms may often worsen after eating.

Pyloric stenosis, which is a narrowing of the pylorus that can lead to projectile vomiting and feeding intolerance in infants, is also not characterized by pain that is relieved by eating.

Thus, the relationship between food intake and symptom relief makes duodenal ulcers distinct in this regard, aligning with why it is recognized as the correct response in this context.