[Treatment of tumors of the small intestine. Clinical results of 31 years/review of the literature].

Tumours of the small intestine differ from gastric or colonic neoplasms because of their low incidence rate and the occurrence of histologic entities rarely seen in other gastrointestinal locations. In our institution 67 patients with small intestinal tumours were treated through 1960 to 1991, including 19 carcinomas, 15 carcinoids, 13 sarcomas and 7 lymphomas. In patients with symptomatic disease, the correct diagnosis was achieved preoperatively in 43%. Small bowel enema and CT were the most effective diagnostic procedures. Emergency laparotomy was necessary in 44%. The rate of curative tumour resections rose from 23% during 1960-1983 to 67% during 1984-1991.