Merck Manual

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Small-Intestine Cancer

(Cancer of the Small Intestine)

By

Anthony Villano

, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Reviewed/Revised Oct 2023
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
Topic Resources
  • Blood in the stool is a common symptom, but sometimes the cancer blocks the intestine, causing crampy abdominal pain and vomiting.

  • The diagnosis is based on various intestinal viewing techniques, including enteroclysis, endoscopy, and barium x-rays.

  • Surgical removal is the best form of treatment.

Cancer of the small intestine is uncommon in the United States, occurring in about 12,070 people and causing about 2,070 deaths each year.

The Small Intestine
VIDEO

Rare types of small-intestine cancer

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (also called carcinoid tumors Carcinoid Tumors and Carcinoid Syndrome Carcinoid tumors are noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growths that sometimes produce excessive amounts of hormone-like substances (such as serotonin), resulting in the carcinoid... read more Carcinoid Tumors and Carcinoid Syndrome ) can develop in the glandular cells that line the small intestine. Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors often secrete hormones that cause diarrhea and flushing of the skin.

Some gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors can be removed surgically. Tumors that have spread can be controlled with a medication, such as octreotide or everolimus, or with a treatment that involves the use of a radioactive somatostatin analog given by vein (this is called peptide receptor radioligand therapy or PRRT).

Lymphoma Overview of Lymphoma Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes, which reside in the lymphatic system and in blood-forming organs. Lymphomas are cancers of a specific type of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. These... read more Overview of Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) may develop in the middle section (jejunum) or the lower section (ileum) of the small intestine. Lymphoma may cause a segment of intestine to become rigid or elongated. This cancer is more common among people with untreated celiac disease Celiac Disease Celiac disease is a hereditary intolerance to gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) that causes characteristic changes in the lining of the small intestine, resulting in malabsorption... read more Celiac Disease . Treatment depends on the type of lymphoma and may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy to help control symptoms and sometimes lengthen survival time.

Leiomyosarcoma (cancer of smooth muscle cells) can develop in the wall of the small intestine. Chemotherapy may slightly lengthen survival time after surgery to remove leiomyosarcomas.

Kaposi sarcoma Kaposi Sarcoma Kaposi sarcoma is a skin cancer that causes multiple flat pink, red, or purple patches or bumps on the skin. It is caused by human herpesvirus type 8 infection. One or a few spots may appear... read more Kaposi Sarcoma is a type of skin cancer that can affect internal organs and sometimes occurs in people with AIDS due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Kaposi sarcoma can occur anywhere in the digestive tract but usually in the stomach, small intestine, or colon. This cancer usually does not cause symptoms in the digestive tract, but bleeding, diarrhea, and intussusception Intussusception Intussusception is a disorder in which one segment of the intestine slides into another, much like the parts of a telescope. The affected segments block the bowel and block blood flow. The cause... read more (one segment of the intestine slides into another, much like the parts of a telescope) may occur. Treatment of Kaposi sarcoma depends on where the cancer is but may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Symptoms of Small-Intestine Cancer

Diagnosis of Small-Intestine Cancer

  • Enteroclysis

  • Endoscopy

  • Video capsule endoscopy

Doctors typically do enteroclysis. In this procedure, a large amount of barium liquid is inserted through a tube in the nose and x-rays are taken as the barium moves through the digestive tract. Sometimes this procedure is done with a computed tomography Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Digestive Tract Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are good tests for assessing the size and location of abdominal organs. Additionally, cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous... read more (CT) scan instead of plain x-rays, in which case the person can just drink the barium rather than having a tube put through their nose.

For endoscopy Endoscopy Endoscopy is an examination of internal structures using a flexible viewing tube (endoscope). In addition to examinations, doctors can use endoscopy to do biopsies and give treatment. Endoscopes... read more , a doctor passes an endoscope (a flexible viewing tube) through the mouth and down to the duodenum and part of the jejunum (the upper and middle sections of the small intestine) to locate the tumor and do a biopsy (remove a tissue sample for examination under a microscope). A doctor can sometimes see tumors of the ileum (the lower section of the small intestine) by passing a colonoscope (an endoscope used to view the lower part of the digestive tract) through the anus, through the entire large intestine, and up into the ileum.

Sometimes exploratory surgery is needed to identify a tumor in the small intestine.

Treatment of Small-Intestine Cancer

  • Surgical removal

The best treatment for most types of cancerous tumors in the small intestine is surgical removal of the tumor.

If doctors are able to see the tumor with an endoscope, they may also remove it by applying an electrical current (electrocautery), heat (thermal obliteration), or high-energy beam of light at the tumor (laser phototherapy).

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy after surgery do not lengthen survival time.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Bynfezia, Mycapssa, Sandostatin, Sandostatin LAR
Afinitor , Afinitor DISPERZ, Zortress
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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