A clinical review of small bowel neoplasms

Small bowel neoplasms represent 3% to 6% of all gastrointestinal tumors and less than 1% of all malignancies. Of 92 cases of small bowel tumor seen between 1950 and 1978, 26% were benign and 74%, malignant. The symptoms and signs are related to the specific disease. Of the malignant neoplasms, 38% were carcinoid; 33%, adenocarcinoma; 14%, leiomyosarcoma; 11%, lymphosarcoma; and 4%, others. The average time of survival for the malignant group was 16 months. The advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis is thought to be the reason for the generally poor prognosis. Attention to vague symptoms and an aggressive diagnostic evaluation are important if survival is to be improved.