[Malignant tumors of the small intestine. Diagnostic problems and differentiated surgical therapy]

The data of 27 patients who suffered from malignant tumors of the small bowel between 1970 and 1992 were retrospectively documented and evaluated. In the mainly elderly patients (5th to 8th decade of life) the tumor was most frequently localized in the ileum (41%), followed by the jejunum (30%) and the duodenum (22%). Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological diagnosis. Only 28% of the tumors were limited to the intestinal wall. 40% had metastases, local or to other organs. Due to diagnostic problems only 30% of these tumors were found preoperatively. In 22% of the cases an explorative laparotomy and in 33% an emergency operation because of ileus and/or peritonitis led to the correct diagnosis. Still, in 64% of the patients a R0-resection was possible. Nevertheless, the median period of survival was only 24.8 months. But patients who were R0-resected survived 65 months.