Small bowel cancer: a 30-year review

Small bowel cancer is a relatively rare tumor with an incidence of 2,700 new cases and 900 deaths per year. The influence of stage on survival has been reported only once previously. Patterns of recurrence are unreported.

All cases of small bowel cancer treated at our hospital over a 30-year period (1960-1989) were reviewed.

The site of most cancers was the duodenum (46%), followed in frequency by the jejunum (33%) and the ileum (21%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histology (63%), followed in frequency by lymphoma (15%), leiomyosarcoma (13%), carcinoid tumors (6%), and miscellaneous (3%). Analysis of stage distribution by site showed a decrease in stages I and II with more distal locations. Associated cancers occurred in 11%, but none were seen in the group with carcinoid tumors. Actuarial 10-year survival rates were 24% for those with adenocarcinoma (all stages) 75% for stage I, 25% for those with stage II, and 0% for stage III. A subgroup of 10 patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy (one stage I, seven stage II, two stage III) had a 30% 10-year survival rate. Those patients with lymphoma had a 12% 10-year survival rate, and those with leiomyosarcoma had a 20% 10-year survival rate. A 100% 10-year survival rate was observed in those with carcinoid tumors. Peritoneal carcinomatosis was the most common failure pattern (33%), followed in frequency by local recurrence in 23% and abdominal wall recurrence in 15%.

A correlation exists between the pathologic stage and the survival rate for adenocarcinoma. The most common recurrence pattern for adenocarcinoma was carcinomatosis, followed in frequency by abdominal wall recurrence. Leiomyosarcoma preferentially metastasizes to the liver.