Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma Masquerading as Crohn's Disease

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare gastrointestinal malignancy, with the majority of cases seen in the duodenum. SBA often poses a diagnostic challenge due to its non-specific presentation. A 46-year-old female smoker presented with a 6-week history of persistent abdominal pain and nausea. The initial workups, including computed tomography and colonoscopy, demonstrated evidence of suspected Crohn's disease (CD). The histopathology of an ileocecal valve ulcer revealed invasive adenocarcinoma. Our case highlights the necessity of considering SBA in the differential diagnosis for patients exhibiting symptoms similar to Crohn's disease, as delays in diagnosis and treatment may result in disease progression and complications, including small bowel obstruction.