Primary Tumors of the Jejunum and the Ileum

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Small bowel tumors are relatively uncommon, accounting for only 3 to 6% of all gastrointestinal tumors. Their infrequency and the lack of specific symptoms can result in delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to find a relationship between the pathology and the clinical features of primary tumors of the jejunum and the ileum. METHODS: We analyzed the clinicopathological findings of 28 patients with primary tumors of the jejunum and the ileum who had undergone surgery at the Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, between June 1989 and December 1997. RESULTS: Among the 28 patients, there were 20 men and 8 women. The mean age was 54 years (13-76 years). The tumors consisted of 10 malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), 7 lymphomas, 6 benign GISTs, 3 adenocarcinomas, and 2 lipomas. The clinical symptoms of these patients were abdominal pain (54%), GI bleeding (32%), nausea & vomiting (14%), weight loss (14%), palpation of abdominal mass (11%), and dizziness (11%). The preoperative complications were bleeding (32%), perforation (18%), intussusception (11%), and obstruction (7%). Bleeding was found in GISTs only and was more frequent in benign GISTs(100%) than in malignant GISTs (30%). Perforation was found in malignant tumors only (25%). Among the 20 patients with malignant tumors, chemotherapy was done in 13, and the 2-year survival rate was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of small bowel tumors is essential to prevent complications such as bleeding and perforation and to reduce mortality. Early diagnosis and surgery seem to be indispensable to a good outcome in symptomatic patients.