[Acute abdomen due to primary small bowel neoplasm. Diagnostic approach and therapeutic modalities]

We report our experience over the period 2000-2004 with the diagnosis and treatment of primary small bowel neoplasms in the emergency setting, stressing the importance of a correct preoperative diagnosis for the implementation of specific treatment. From January 2000 to September 2004 we treated 5674 patients, 8 of whom (0.8%) presented a primary small bowel neoplasm emergency. The diagnosis was made using small bowel ultrasound. We detected 8 cases of primary small bowel neoplasms using ultrasound. This examination was specific for the small bowel and enabled us to obtain an accurate preoperative diagnosis. A correct diagnosis of primitive small bowel neoplasm is necessary in order to institute the right treatment. The main treatment is surgery in our experience, the gold standard being laparoscopy but only when performed by expert surgeons.