BENIGN-TUMORS OF THE SMALL-INTESTINE

We reviewed 50 patients with benign tumors of small intestine treated over a period of 15 years. Mean age was 58 years, and 54% of the patie nts were female. The most frequent location of the tumors was the jeju num (54%). The commonest histological variety was leiomyoma (56%), fol lowed by fibroma (14%). Average size of tumor was 4,8 cm. Whith regard to clinical data, 20% of the patients were asymptomatic; in the remai ning 80% of the patients, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and abdominal distension were the most frequent symptoms. The mean sym ptom-diagnosis interval was 2 months. Barium studies, duodenal endosco py and selective angiography were the most useful diagnostic tools. Ho wever, only in 30% of cases the correct diagnosis was reached preopera tively. All patients underwent surgical treatment. The more frequent s urgical technique was segmental resection of small bowel (84%). Operat ive mortality was 4% and morbidity was 10%. Actuarial 5-year survival for all patients was 96%.