ABSTRACT
Small bowel neoplasms represent a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant neoplasms. Although the small intestine accounts for 75% of the length and 90% of the absorptive surface area of the gastrointestinal tract, small bowel malignancies have a remarkably low incidence, representing 0.3% of all tumours and fewer than 2% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Seventy-five percent of small bowel tumours are benign, and the most frequent are leiomyomas, adenomas, lipomas and hamartomas. However, most of the symptomatic small bowel neoplasms are malignant, and this group includes both primary and metastatic lesions. The most frequent primary small bowel malignant neoplasms are neuroendocrine tumours, adenocarcinomas, sarcomas and lymphomas. The clinical symptoms of small bowel tumours are often non-specific and, particularly at an early stage, are vague and common to other disorders of the small bowel. Presenting symptoms include weight loss, nausea, vomiting, anaemia and abdominal pain.
