[Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum]

To revise literature data about adenocarcinoma of the duodenum comparing to our results.

Six patients with this kind of cancer, excluding periampullary lesions, were treated from 1991 to 1999 in the Department of Surgery, Santa Casa of São Paulo Medical School. Five of them were males in theirs fifties. The commonest signs and symptoms were those of gastrointestinal obstruction and weight loss. All patients were evaluated by duodenoscopy. Ultrasonography and CT scans played an important role with regard to preoperative staging. Three patients underwent a segmental resection and the others were submitted to a palliative duodenal bypass.

Post-operative hospitalization varied from 5 to 9 days (7,3 days average). The operative mortality was 16.6% (one patient). Patients were not submitted to chemo or radiotherapy. Follow-up has been done. Patients with curative resection were free from recurrence. Two patients submitted to palliative operations were lost to follow-up.

Rarity of duodenum carcinomas and few patients in the literature did not permit conclusions.