Clinically diagnosed small intestinal tumors in an urban Swedish area. A 10-year survey.

The clinical records of 55 patients with small intestinal tumors (SIT) in Gothenburg under a 10-year period (1968-1977) were reviewed. All patients except three had surgical treatment. Histopathologically 12 patients had benign lesions (most commonly leiomyomas), while 39 patients had malignant lesions. Among SIT with malignant potential carcinoids were most common followed by sarcomas and carcinomas. SIT usually presented with either obstruction or intestinal hemorrhage. The duration of symptoms was much shorter for sarcomas and carcinomas than for carcinoids or benign tumors. SIT were most frequent in the distal part of the small intestine, where especially carcinoids and sarcomas dominated. The clinical diagnosis was mainly based on X-ray examinations; however with a low accuracy for lesions distal to the duodenum. In 71% of the SIT cases resection for cure was possible to perform.