[Primary tumours of the small bowel (author's transl)]

In a period of 21 years we observed 28 tumours of the small bowel (14 benign, 14 malignant), what comes up to 0.85% of all tumours of the GI-tract seen at our hospital. The low rate of incidence of malignomas of the small bowel is supposed to be in relation with the carcinogenic indifference of its contents. 60% of the cases underwent operations for acute complications, such as ileus or peritonitis. Early diagnosis of these tumours is difficult due to their uncharacteristic symptoms and the lack of radiographic signs. Only 4 out of the 14 cases with malignomas underwent radical surgery. The prognosis of malignant tumours of the small bowel is not a good one due to delay of diagnosis, early metastising and local involvement of the mesentery. The 5 year survival rate was 22%. Solitary benign tumours of the small bowel after their removal have an excellent prognosis.