Surgical Management of Jejunal Tumors: Experience from Tertiary Care Centre

Small bowel is an uncommon site for primary neoplasm in the gastrointestinal tract. Traditionally, duodenum has been combined with jejunum and ileum in analysing the presentation and management of these tumors. Given the different presentation pattern, diagnostic difficulties and anatomical considerations, jejunal tumors may differ from duodenal tumors.

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients with histology proven jejunal tumors was done. Clinico-radiological characters, histological findings, surgical procedures and the outcomes in these patients were studied.

Sixteen patients were included in the study. Median age at presentation was 42 years (26-76 years) and majority were males (n = 11, 68.8%). Seven (43.7%) patients presented with emergencies. Endoscopic tissue diagnosis could be obtained in 5 (31.3%) patients. Histology of tumors were adenocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor and lymphoma in 6 (37.5%), 5 (31.3%) and 3 (18.8%) respectively. Sarcoma (myxofibroma) and metastasis (urothelial origin) were present in one patient each. Two patients with adenocarcinoma had neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Curative resection was feasible in 14 patients. Resection of tumor-bearing segment with anastomosis was performed in 9 patients. Among these, 5 had duodenojejunostomy. One patient had resection and double-barrel jejunostomy. One patient with jejunal GIST had sleeve resection. Multi-visceral resection was performed in 3 patients. There were no mortality and median postoperative hospital stay was 11 days (range 7-33 days).

Histology spectrum of jejunal tumors are distinct. Difficulty in obtaining preoperative tissue diagnosis of these lesions need to be addressed by improved endoscopic and image-directed biopsy techniques.