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February 10, 2012
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Cancer of the Small Intestine (cont.)

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Risk Factors

Each year, US doctors diagnose about 1200 malignant small intestine tumors. This is a small number relative to the frequency of tumors in other parts of the GI tract.

  • It has been proposed that the liquid nature of the small intestinal contents may be less irritating to the mucosa, the innermost lining of the small bowel.


  • Rapid transit time in the small bowel may reduce exposure of the intestinal wall to cancer-inducing agents found in the intestinal contents.


  • Other factors that might limit the presence or impact of potential cancer-inducing agents include the following:

    • A low bacterial count


    • A large lymphoid tissue component in the wall of the small intestine


    • An alkaline pH inside the small intestine


    • The presence of the enzyme benzpyrene hydroxylase

  • Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel is associated with the following underlying conditions:


  • Cancer is 50 times more common in the large bowel than in the small bowel. Risk factors in the general population include the following:

    • Alcohol abuse


    • Consumption of salted or smoked meats and fish


    • Heavy sugar intake

  • Risk factors for developing cancer of the small intestine in Crohn disease include the following:

    • Male sex


    • Long duration of disease


    • Associated fistulous disease: A fistula is an abnormal tube that passes from one surface to another, such as from the colon to the skin.


    • Surgical removal of part of the bowel


    • The risk of developing small intestinal cancer is 6 times greater for people with Crohn disease compared to the general population.

  • Lymphoma of the small intestine is associated with celiac disease but is also strongly associated with weakened immune systems such as occurs with AIDS.

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Cancer of the Small Intestine - Symptoms

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What symptoms did you experience with your cancer of the small intestine?

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Malignant Neoplasms of the Small Intestine »

Malignant neoplasms of the small bowel are among the rarest types of cancer, accounting for only 2% of all GI cancers.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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