Small Intestine Cancer

Small intestine cancer is a cancer of the small intestine. It is relatively rare compared to other gastrointestinal malignancies such as gastric cancer (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 later two parts of the small intestine). Duodenal cancer has more in common with stomach cancer, while cancer of the jejunum and ileum have more in common with colorectal cancer. Five-year survival rates are 65%.

Histopathologic types

Relative incidence of histopathologic types of small intestine cancers, and their prognoses.

Several different subtypes of small intestine cancer exist. These include:

• Adenocarcinoma
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
• Lymphoma
• Carcinoid tumors of the midgut

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  Adenocarcinoma

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  Carcinoid

Risk factors

Endoscopic image of adenocarcinoma of duodenum seen in the post-bulbar duodenum.

Risk factors for small intestine cancer include:

• Crohn's disease
• Celiac disease
• Radiation exposure
• Hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes: familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Peutz–Jeghers syndrome
• Males are 25% more likely to develop the disease

Benign tumours and conditions that may be mistaken for cancer of the small bowel:

• Hamartoma
• Tuberculosis

Additional images

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  Micrograph of a small intestine neuroendocrine tumour. H&E stain.