Duodenal Malignancy Surgery

What is Duodenal Cancer?

Duodenal cancer is a rapidly growing mass of irregular cells (tumors) in the first part of the small intestine. This tumor can prevent the intestines from properly digesting food and prevent food from moving through the intestines.

In the early stages, you may not have any symptoms of duodenal cancer. As the colon tumor grows, you may experience symptoms that affect your digestive system, such as nausea, constipation, or abdominal cramps.

Types of Duodenal Cancer

Your duodenum contains a variety of cell types, so different types of cancer can develop there. The four main types of duodenal cancer are:

• Adenocarcinoma affects the cells that make chemicals, enzymes, and other fluids that break down food.
• Carcinoid Tumors are slow-growing tumors that often start in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and spread throughout the body.
• Lymphomas start in the cells of the immune system that fight infection.
• Sarcomas start in bone or soft tissue, such as muscle or blood vessels. The most common type of gastrointestinal sarcoma is a gastrointestinal stromal tumor.