PRIMARY NEOPLASIA OF SMALL INTESTINE

Abstract

Primary small intestine neoplasia can present with various signs and symptoms. As these symptoms can also be seen in other common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, they can lead to misdiagnosis. Therefore, this situation causes time and money loss. in this study, we retrospectively evaluated 15 patients who had the diagnosis of primary small intestine neoplasia and were operated in 3rd Surgical Clinic of Ankara Social Security Hospital between 1990 and 1995. There were 7 men, 8 women and the mean age was 46. There were 6 lymphomas, 5 adenocarcinomas, 3 leimyomas and 1 leimyosarcoma. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, weakness and weight loss. Clinically, various findings as abdominal mass, intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, invagination and perforation were seen. Lymphomas were most commonly found in ileum, adenocarcinomas in duodenum. leiomyomas in ileum; and the only leiomyosarcoma was localized in ileum. Preoperatively, gastrointestinal endoscopy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, serial passage examination, angiography were done in appropriate cases for diagnosis. Radical resections could have been performed in 11 cases and palliative procedures were available in 4 cases. Postoperative adjuvant therapies were managed together with related oncology units. As a result, preoperative diagnosis of primary small intestine neoplasia is very difficult. These cases can either present with nonspesific signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal tract, or with very uncommon clinic forms. The clinician should always keep this in mind to avoid time and money loss. Resection is the first choice for the treatment of primary small intestine neoplasia.