Most tumors of the small intestine are noncancerous (benign). These include tumors of fat cells (lipomas), nerve cells (neurofibromas), connective tissue cells (fibromas), and muscle cells (leiomyomas).
Most noncancerous tumors of the small intestine do not cause symptoms. However, larger ones may cause blood in the stool, a partial or complete intestinal obstruction, or intestinal strangulation if one part of the intestine telescopes into an adjacent part (a condition called 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 ). Some noncancerous tumors secrete hormones ( see Gastrinoma Gastrinoma A gastrinoma is a tumor usually in the pancreas or duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) that produces excessive levels of the hormone gastrin, which stimulates the stomach to... read more ) or hormonelike substances ( see Vipoma Vipoma A vipoma is a rare type of tumor of the pancreas that produces vasoactive intestinal peptide, a substance that causes severe watery diarrhea. These tumors arise from cells in the pancreas that... read more ) that can cause symptoms such as diarrhea or flushing.
Diagnosis
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.
A doctor may use an endoscope (a flexible viewing tube— see 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 ) passed 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.
A wireless battery-powered capsule that contains one or two small cameras (video capsule endoscopy Video Capsule Endoscopy Video capsule endoscopy (wireless video endoscopy) is a procedure in which the person swallows a battery-powered capsule. The capsule contains one or two small cameras, a light, and a transmitter... read more ) can be swallowed to show pictures of tumors of the small intestine.
Sometimes exploratory surgery is needed to identify a tumor in the small intestine.
Treatment
Various removal methods
Small noncancerous growths may be destroyed by treatments applied through a flexible viewing tube (endoscope— see 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 ) inserted into the intestine. These treatments include applying an electrical current (electrocautery) or heat (thermal obliteration) directly to the growth and directing a high-energy beam of light at the growth (laser phototherapy).
For large growths, surgery may be needed.
