Objectives: Primary small bowel tumors (SBTs) are uncommon, comprising less than 5% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Their nonspecific symptoms often lead to diagnostic delays and treatment at advanced stages. This study aimed to analyze the clinical features, surgical management, and outcomes of patients with primary SBTs treated at a tertiary care center over a five-year period. Material and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 21 patients who underwent surgery for primary SBTs between January 2018 and December 2022. Data collected included demographics, presenting symptoms, imaging modalities, operative findings, histopathology, postoperative complications, and survival outcomes. Results: The study included 13 male and 8 female patients, with a mean age of 47.8 years. The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 2.5 months. Abdominal pain was reported in all patients, with obstruction (57.1%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (28.5%) as common additional symptoms. The jejunum was the most frequent tumor site (66.6%). Surgical management included laparoscopic resection in 52.3% and open surgery in 47.7%. Histological subtypes included adenocarcinoma (38.1%), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (28.5%), lymphoma (14.2%), neuroendocrine tumor (9.5%), inflammatory pseudotumor (4.7%), and Ewing’s sarcoma (4.7%). The mean hospital stay was 5.7 days, and postoperative morbidity occurred in 23.8% of patients. The median survival was 26 months (range 6–42 months). Conclusion: Primary SBTs are rare and often present late due to vague symptoms. A high index of suspicion, appropriate imaging, and timely surgical intervention are essential for improved outcomes. Histological subtype significantly influences prognosis and postoperative management.
Naik et al. (Fri,) studied this question.