[Duodenal carcinomas. Apropos 3 cases]

Three personal cases of duodenal cancer treated at the Department of Propaedeutics of Surgical Diseases of the Research Institute of Surgery in Sofia for the period 1981-May 1990 are reported. They accounted for 0.27 per cent of the patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and 0.39 per cent of those with intestinal cancer. Two patients has adenocarcinoma and 1 leiomyosarcoma. Data available in the literature are adduced and analysis made of the symptoms, operative mortality and postoperative survival. The need of early diagnosis of duodenal cancer and the methods for this are pointed out. The major importance of the prophylaxis and competent approach to obligate and non-obligate precancerous duodenal diseases is emphasized.