Primary malignant duodenal tumours: a point of view and a proposal of classification

To date, malignant duodenal tumours have remained obscure subject-matter although they were first described in the eighteenth century. Recent development in technology and in anatomohistopathology makes it necessary to review the duodenal tumours classification, especially in relation to the progressive development of stromal and neuroendocrine forms. In the literature, precise epidemiological data are not reported and, as regards some duodenal tumours, simply do not exist. Series are generally either surgical, anatomopathological or gastroenterological. Hospital centres need to establish a collaboration which gathers new observed cases to avoid the dispersion of case series. Thus, a European Register will be established to report the real incidence by analyzing the specific differential elements.