A Rare Cause for Sub-acute Small Bowel Obstruction: Distal Ileal Neuroendocrine Tumor.

ABSTRACT

Intestinal obstruction presents a unique challenge to the surgeon, with regard to making the correct diagnosis, deciding the optimal timing of intervention, and the appropriate therapy. Malignant tumors account for approximately 20% of the causes of small bowel obstruction. Small bowel neoplasms are exceedingly rare, despite the fact that the small bowel constitutes about 80% of the total length of the gastrointestinal tract and makes up more than 90% of the mucosal surface area. Only 5% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms and only 1-2% of all malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract occur in the small bowel. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of small bowel presenting as sub-acute intestinal obstruction are very rare. The incidence rates of Jejuno-Ileal NETs are 0.28-0.8 per 100,000 population per year. We present here, a case of sub-acute intestinal obstruction due to a distal ileal stricture. The patient was evaluated and underwent laparotomy. Growth was noted in the distal ileum, which was resected and end to end anastomosis was done. Post-operative histopathology proved the growth to be a well-differentiated NET.