Cancer of the Small Intestine

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Medical Author:

Robert J Fingerote, MD, MSc, BSc

Medical Editor:

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD

Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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• Cancer of the Small Intestine Introduction
• Risk Factors
• Cancer of the Small Intestine Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Cancer of the Small Intestine Treatment
• Prognosis
• Prevention
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• References
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Cancer of the Small Intestine from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Cancer of the Small Intestine - Symptoms

The small intestine, or small bowel, lies between the stomach and the colon. The small intestine is about 6 m (20 ft) long. Its primary function is to digest and absorb nutrients. The small intestine makes up more than 70% of the length and 90% of the surface area of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The most common cancerous (malignant) tumors of the small bowel include adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, and carcinoids.

• In industrialized countries, adenocarcinomas occur most often.



• In developing countries, lymphomas are much more common.



• All these tumors have the potential to invade the bowel wall, spread into adjoining lymph nodes, and move to distant organs (metastasize).

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