[Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum. Study of three cases and review of the literature].

The authors report three cases of primary adenocarcinoma, two concerning the duodenum and the third concerning the duodenojejunal junction. These rare tumours are characterized by polymorphic and non specific clinical signs. Diagnosis is suspected by upper gastrointestinal fibroscopy and barium swallow, and confirmed by biopsies. Prognosis varies according to histological differentiation and lymph node extension. Whipples operation is the sole curative procedure in the absence of local lymph node involvement. Cases of extensive invasion are managed by bilio-digestive by-pass.