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SMALL BOWEL TUMOURS
Author(s) -
MIDDLETON W. R. J.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1967.16.2.155
Subject(s) - medicine , vomiting , carcinoid tumour , weight loss , carcinoma , incidence (geometry) , surgery , gastroenterology , physics , optics , obesity
Summary Primary tumours of the small bowel have been reviewed over a 16 year period; 58 tumours were found in 55 patients. The sex incidences were equal, and the peak age at presentation was in the seventh decade. Sixteen (28%) of the tumours were benign and 42 (72%) malignant. Carcinoma accounted for 57% of the malignant growths, and carcinoid for 29%. The average duration of symptoms was 21·4 months and 7·8 months for benign and malignant tumours respectively. Forty‐nine of the 58 tumours caused symptoms, and 14 of these (29%) presented as surgical emergencies. Benign tumours usually cause obstructive symptoms, whereas malignant tumours frequently present with weight loss, anæmia or changed bowel habit in addition to pain and vomiting. Diagnostic methods and their shortcomings are considered. Clinical suspicion is the most important single factor in making the diagnosis.