Small bowel complications of metastatic lung carcinoma

A case of small bowel perforation and a case of small bowel obstruction as a result of metastatic lung carcinoma are presented. The surgical management of each is discussed. The patient who presented with small bowel perforation died in the immediate post-operative period, while the patient who presented with small bowel obstruction is alive and well six months later. Patients with primary lung carcinoma who present with an acute abdomen should be treated by standard surgical principles irrespective of their primary pathology.