Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine: 21-year review of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tumor characteristics and treatment associated with an improved overall survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the small intestine.

Methods: The records of all patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel seen between January 1971 and December 1991 were reviewed retrospectively. The study comprised 38 patients, 22 (58%) with duodenal tumors, 11 (29%) with jejunal tumors, and five (13%) with ileal tumors.

Results: Although not statistically significant, the patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma lived longer than the patients with jejunal or ileal lesions (p = 0.77). The overall survival was 23% and seemed to correlate best with absence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.04) and pancreaticoduodenectomy for localized duodenal tumors (p = 0.04). The patient's age, duration of symptoms, disease-free interval, tumor location, type of recurrence, and histologic grade did not significantly influence survival.

Conclusions: The lethality of small-intestinal adenocarcinoma appears to be related to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. When a definitive surgical procedure is performed before lymph node metastases appear, the patient's chance for long-term survival is greatly improved.