Benign neoplasmia and pseudoneoplasia of the small bowel in children

Fourteen cases of benign tumorous conditions in children are reported. Each new growth described represents a true neoplasm, one simulating a true neoplasm, or one simulating a true tumor, clinically and/or radiographically. The series contains 10 female and 4 male patients. Most patients were under 1 year of age when manifestations--most often, gastrointestinal hemorrhage or bowel obstruction-- of the condition became evident. Nine patients had roentgenographic findings which indicated the presence of an abnormality, but the specificity of the findings was low. Some patients had cutaneous or other somatic clinical stigmata found in known syndromes also containing gastrointestinal pathology. These stigmata and the awareness of the clinical and roentgenographic manifestations of small bowel tumors in children should lead to an early diagnosis and hopefully to the usually successful surgical therapy.