Small bowel and mesentery

Abstract

Benign and malignant tumors of the jejunoileum are rare (Turner and Bass). Despite its length and large absorptive mucosal stroma (more than 90% of the mucosal surface area of the gastrointestinal tract), only 5% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms (Evers) and 1-2% of all gastrointestinal malignancies develop in the small bowel and mesentery (Whang et al.). However, approximately two-third of these neoplasms are malignant (Rustgi). An annual estimate of 5,100 cases of small intestine cancer, with 1,340 deaths, was issued for the United States in 2006 by the American Cancer Society (Gore et al.). Zeh stated, Cancer arising in the small intestine presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the cancer clinician because (1) it is not a single pathologic entity but rather a diverse group of histologically benign and malignant tumors; (2) it is relatively rare, making collection, collation, and analysis of epidemiologic data, as well as treatment outcomes, difficult; and (3) it usually presents with vague or non-specific symptoms, making early diagnosis difficult. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.