Small bowel carcinoma
Small bowel
carcinoma is rare compared with gastric
and colorectal cancer. Although the small bowel comprises 75% of the
gastrointestinal tract length, less than 2% of gastrointestinal malignancies
arise there. Only 40% of small bowel malignancies
have their origin in the small bowel itself. The other
60% has its origin elsewhere, like for instance lymfoid
tissue or metastases from melanoma, breast, lung and renal cancer.
The diagnosis is
difficult but thanks to new techniques it can be proven more often. Ingestion of
a videocapsule
shows the inner part of the small bowel and with new endoscopes (double
balloon endoscope)
it is possible to take biopsies from tumours that were
not accessible before.
In the case described here, these techniques were used (Academic Hospital of the
Free University in Amsterdam) and the operation was performed in our institution.
By means of laparoscopy the tumor was located. This was facilitated because with
endoscopy a tattoo was left at the place of the tumor. No other adverse signs
were noted in the abdominal cavity and therefore the tumour could be removed
with a small incision through the umbilicus.
