Experience in clinical diagnosis and treatment of duodenal tumors

Small bowel tumors are rare tumors. Duodenal tumors occur more commonly compared with other small intestinal tumors. To summarize the clinicopathological features of duodenal tumors, in the present study 44 cases of duodenal tumors were collected, and the comparative clinicopathological characteristics between tumors of the ampulla and non-ampulla, the choice of treatment, and differences in the prognosis, were analyzed. The pathological type identified was predominantly adenocarcinoma; periampullary duodenal tumors were almost classifiable as adenocarcinoma in terms of their type. Non-ampulla duodenal tumors also included rare pathological types, such as stromal tumor and large B-cell lymphoma. The symptoms of duodenal tumors were non-specific, therefore rendering early diagnosis and treatment difficult. Due to jaundice, periampullary duodenal tumors were diagnosed earlier than non-ampulla duodenal tumors. Endoscopy and computed tomography (CT) examinations were valuable in terms of diagnosis, and were used as a means of screening. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 199 (CA199) were revealed to be important as biomarkers. Radical surgery was the most effective treatment. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was revealed to be applicable in all cases of duodenal tumors. For non-ampulla duodenal tumors, partial duodenum resection and subtotal gastrectomy were appropriate for selection as methods of treatment. No survival benefits were identified for adjuvant chemotherapy. Duodenal tumors were shown to be a rare neoplasm with atypical symptoms; they should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible; CT and gastroscopy may be used for screening, radical surgery offers the best treatment; pancreatoduodenectomy is not the only surgery option available; and chemotherapy did not result in any survival benefits.