PRIMARY SMALL BOWEL TUMORS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical record, tumor characteristics and treatment in patient swith primary tumors of the small intestine. Small intestinal tumors are relative lyrare,considerably difficult to diagnose and often advanced at the time of def nitive treatment, The records of 27 patients with primary tumors of the small intestine seen between January 1980 and January 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. Abdominal pain.nause and vomiting were prominent findings in patients with benign tumors. Virtually all malignant tumors were symptomatic with abdominal pain and weight loss. Themost common types of benign and malignant tumors were leiomyoma (62%) and adenocarcinoma (42%), respectively. 7 patients with benign tumors did well after resection, where as the 19 patients with malignant turnors did poorly despite apparently cutavite wide resection in 7 patients and pancreaticoduoden ectomy in 5 patients. 5 year survival rate for adenocarcinoma and carcinoid .turnors of the small intestine rarely is made because symptomare nonspecific, Surgical resection for cure results in improved survival. Explorotory celiotomy should be performed in symptomatic patients even though no abnormality may be detected on roentgenographic examination.