[Adenocarcinoma of the third part of the duodenum]

Adenocarcinoma of the third part of the duodenum is a rare tumour (34 cases reported in the literature). The clinical signs are polymorphic and non-specific and the stenotic form is the most frequent (57%). Complications are numerous and frequent. The difficult radiological diagnosis reveals either a short stenosis, a filling defect or, more rarely, and enlarged duodenal shadow or an ulcer. Duodenal fibroscopy allows the histological diagnosis and the differential diagnosis with other duodenal tumours. Adenocarcinoma of the third part of the duodenum requires cephalic duodenopancreatectomy (operative mortality of about 16%), which is the only treatment allowing a 3-year survival in 50% of cases and a 5-year survival in 30-40% of cases.