Small intestine cancer is a

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bl ...

of the

small intestine The small intestine or small bowel is an organ in the gastrointestinal tract where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intestine, and receives bile and pancreatic juice through t ...

. It is relatively rare compared to other gastrointestinal malignancies such as

gastric cancer Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a cancer that develops from the lining of the stomach. Most cases of stomach cancers are gastric carcinomas, which can be divided into a number of subtypes, including gastric adenocarcinomas. Ly ...

(stomach cancer) and colorectal cancer. Small intestine cancer can be subdivided into duodenal cancer (the first part of the small intestine) and cancer of the jejunum and

ileum The ileum () is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine m ...

(the latter two parts of the small intestine). Duodenal cancer has more in common with

stomach cancer Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a cancer that develops from the Gastric mucosa, lining of the stomach. Most cases of stomach cancers are gastric carcinomas, which can be divided into a number of subtypes, including gastric adenoca ...

, while cancer of the jejunum and ileum have more in common with colorectal cancer. Five-year survival rates are 65%.

Histopathologic types

Small intestinal cancers by incidence and prognosis

Subtypes of small intestine cancer include: *

Adenocarcinoma Adenocarcinoma (; plural adenocarcinomas or adenocarcinomata ) (AC) is a type of cancerous tumor that can occur in several parts of the body. It is defined as neoplasia of epithelial tissue that has glandular origin, glandular characteristics, o ...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs arise in the smooth muscle pacemaker interstitial cell of Cajal, or similar cells. They are defined as tumors whose behavio ...

Lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). In current usage the name usually refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enl ...

* Carcinoid tumors of the midgut File:Light microscopy of small intestinal adenocarcinoma.jpg, Adenocarcinoma File:Histopathology of small intestinal well-differentiated grade 1 (G1) carcinoid.jpg, Carcinoid

Risk factors

Risk factors for small intestine cancer include:Chen AC, Neugut AI. Malignant Neoplasms of the Small Intestine. eMedicine.com. URL
http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic2651.htm
Accessed on: June 2, 2006. *

Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distension, ...

* Celiac disease * Radiation exposure * Hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes:

familial adenomatous polyposis Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant inherited condition in which numerous adenomatous polyps form mainly in the epithelium of the large intestine. While these polyps start out benign, malignant transformation into c ...

, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer,

Peutz–Jeghers syndrome Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (often abbreviated PJS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the development of benign hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and hyperpigmented macules on the lips and oral mucosa ( ...

* Males are 25% more likely to develop the disease Benign tumours and conditions that may be mistaken for cancer of the small bowel: *

Hamartoma A hamartoma is a mostly benign, local malformation of cells that resembles a neoplasm of local tissue but is usually due to an overgrowth of multiple aberrant cells, with a basis in a systemic genetic condition, rather than a growth descended f ...

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in w ...

Additional images

Image:Small intestine neuroendocrine tumour low mag.jpg,

Micrograph A micrograph or photomicrograph is a photograph or digital image taken through a microscope or similar device to show a magnify, magnified image of an object. This is opposed to a macrograph or photomacrograph, an image which is also taken ...

of a

neuroendocrine tumour.

H&E stain Hematoxylin and eosin stain ( or haematoxylin and eosin stain or hematoxylin-eosin stain; often abbreviated as H&E stain or HE stain) is one of the principal tissue stains used in histology. It is the most widely used stain in medical diagnos ...

References

External links

{{Digestive system neoplasia Gastrointestinal cancer