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Signs of cancer formation in the small intestine. Small intestinal cancer: nature of manifestation and treatment of pathology Number of membranes in the ileum

Small intestinal cancer is a type of oncology that is not one of the common types. It accounts for no more than 3% of lesions from malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms and manifestations of small intestinal cancer in women develop much less frequently, and therefore the disease is mainly diagnosed in older men, that is, over 60 years of age.

Etiology of the disease

The term “intestinal cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that affects the tissue of the intestine with mutagenic cells that begin to divide uncontrollably. Affected cells fill the area, disrupt its functioning, spread to adjacent areas, healthy tissues, and over time infect the entire body. In the absence of necessary treatment, intestinal pathology leads to death.

The length of the loop-shaped small intestine reaches 4.5 m. It consists of several sections: duodenum, jejunum, ileum. Each of them can develop a malignant tumor.

Intestinal cancer is a disease whose exact causes have not yet been established by medical science. There is a list of intestinal pathologies, damage to which provokes an increased risk of developing cancer. This:

the presence of non-polyposis hereditary colorectal cancer;
celiac disease;
congenital anomalies of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract;
Crohn's disease.

Oncology of the small intestine can also occur under the influence of such factors on the human body:

eating foods high in carcinogens;
abuse of alcohol, nicotine;
radiation exposure.

Most often, a malignant tumor begins to affect the cylindrical epithelium of the intestinal glands, and therefore, according to histology, it is classified as carcinoma. Predispose to the occurrence of intestinal disease:

intestinal ulcers;
prostate adenoma;
chronic inflammatory processes in the intestines;
diagnosis of diverticulitis.

An intestinal tumor almost always grows into the intestinal lumen, and in isolated cases it is exophytic. Oncology, which expands into the lumen, greatly narrows the intestine in a ring-shaped manner.

The loop of intestine, which is located above the site of narrowing, often expands and its muscles hypertrophy. With severe and long-term stenosis of the lumen, the loop in the intestine stretches, becomes thinner, and perforates, causing peritonitis. This is how patency is impaired due to intussusception.

Oncology rarely undergoes ulceration. It is characterized by metastases to the following organs:

retroperitoneal and mesenteric lymph nodes;
liver;
abdominal region;
lungs;
adrenal glands;
bones;
dura mater.

As a rule, metastases from the intestine spread throughout the body with lymph.

A neoplasm in the intestine can grow together with a nearby loop of intestine, bladder, colon, female genitals, and enlarged regional lymph nodes.

Equally important information about symptoms

Species

A malignant tumor can form anywhere in the small intestine. Oncology is classified into exophytic and endophytic in accordance with the nature of tumor growth. ICD disease code C17 malignant neoplasms of the small intestine.

An exophytic tumor in the intestine grows inside the intestinal lumen. At the very beginning, it provokes stagnation of content in this department. After a certain time, stagnation turns into obstruction.

Endophytic neoplasms do not have clear boundaries. They begin to spread into the intestinal tissue, affecting its layers one by one, gradually affecting all the membranes. With further progression, oncology affects neighboring organs.

An endophytic tumor is more dangerous, and the prognosis for life expectancy and recovery in this case is negative. Intestinal diagnostics helps determine the exact nature of the tumor.

In accordance with the histological structure of tumor neoplasms, they are classified into the following types:

adenocarcinoma is a tumor that affects the glandular tissues of the intestine; it does not form often in the intestine, mainly affecting the duodenum;

carcinoid is a malignant tumor that is formed from epithelial cells, it mainly affects the small and large intestines;
lymphoma is a rare type of ileal cancer;
leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor that can reach large sizes, is detected even through the abdominal wall, and often provokes intestinal obstruction.

Reasons for development

The reliable reasons that cause the formation of oncology have not been established. In accordance with the surveys and statistics, the risk of contracting pathology increases in the following situations:

when a small intestine tumor is diagnosed in a person’s immediate relatives;
with chronic infectious inflammation of the small intestine, which can destroy mucous surfaces;
polyps in the intestine;
oncology of other organs;
radiation exposure;
abuse of alcoholic beverages, smoking;
constant inclusion in the diet of salted, dried, smoked foods, which contain a lot of animal fats, as well as frequent consumption of lard and fatty meats.

Important! Most often, oncology of the small intestine is detected in men after 60 years of age.

Characteristic symptoms

A malignant tumor in the small intestine at the very beginning of the lesion does not provoke any symptoms. The first signs develop only at the stage when the course of the disease leads to a narrowing of the lumen in the affected area of the small intestine.

The very first symptoms that should alert a person and become a reason to visit a doctor include complex dyspeptic problems in the intestines:

persistent nausea;
vomit;
bloating;
spastic pain in the epigastrium, in the navel area.

Also, in the first stages of tumor damage, patients experience the following characteristic manifestations:

loose stools with tenesmus - a false urge to defecate with pain, after which there is copious discharge of mucus;
alternating diarrhea and constipation;
intestinal obstruction of varying severity;
pain during bowel movements.

Common signs of bowel disease include:

rapidly increasing weakness;
frequent ailments;
rapid fatigue even after light work;
loss of appetite;
sudden, seemingly causeless weight loss;
low protein content in blood plasma;
anemia;
pale tint of blood and mucous surfaces that line the mouth and nasal cavity;
frequent dizziness, headaches;
persistent increase in body temperature to subfebrile.

In men and women, a tumor in the small intestine develops in the first stages of the lesion almost equally. But at the time of active progression and influence on nearby organs, some differences arise.

In women, during the growth of a tumor into the tissue of neighboring organs, the vagina is injured, and in males, the prostate is injured. When the disease affects the rectum and anal area, women and men complain of intense pain in the anus, in the area of the coccyx, sacrum, and lumbar spine.

Men are especially prone to urinary problems. This indicates tumor growth into the walls of the bladder. This process provokes a rise in temperature to high numbers, infection of the urinary tract in an ascending manner.

Important! Oncology can progress for a long time without provoking complaints at all, and manifest itself for the first time only after the occurrence of serious irreversible complications.

A tumor of the small intestine is characterized by a gradual increase in symptoms, and therefore people do not take them seriously. Over time, the tumor grows and has a negative impact on the functions of neighboring organs. In this case, victims have complaints that indicate the following dangerous conditions of the intestine:

intestinal ischemia;
pancreatitis;
obstructive jaundice.

In especially severe cases, serious disruptions already occur in the functioning of other organs that are located closer to the tumor - pancreas, liver, etc.

Degrees

1st degree. At this stage, the diameter of the tumor does not exceed 2 cm, it does not extend beyond the boundaries of the small intestine and does not grow into the tissue of nearby organs, and no metastases have yet formed.
2nd degree. At this stage of the progression of the malignant tumor, it grows a little more, begins to extend beyond the boundaries of the intestinal wall and affect nearby organs, but there are no metastases. At this stage, the pathological process often involves the cecum, large intestine, and more specifically its part - the sigmoid colon.
3rd degree - the tumor increases greatly and can send metastases to the lymph nodes near the small intestine, but distant metastases have not yet been observed.
4th degree - the tumor has already affected tissues located nearby and provokes multiple metastases to distant systems and organs.

Oncology of the small intestine is characterized by metastasis to the following organs:

abdominal cavity;
liver;
ovaries;
lungs;
pancreas;
bladder;
adrenal glands;
pelvic organs;
lymph nodes in the retroperitoneal region.

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor conducts a comprehensive study of the patient’s condition. It includes several methods to increase the accuracy of the results:

Clinical method. The patient is interviewed, visually examined and palpated to establish the circumstances of the development of the disease and the location of the malignant tumor. If the tumor is large, then it can be detected already at this stage of diagnosis.
Laboratory method. Diagnostic tests are carried out to detect anemia, increased ESR, abnormalities in liver tests, and digestive disorders. The presence of indicators of intestinal cancer in the blood - tumor markers - is also checked.

Tumor markers in the intestines are produced in response to the aggressive influence of a malignant neoplasm on the body. They can be of two types. The first are organ-specific, which are produced by affected cells immediately after damage by pathology; in the normal state they are not present in the body. The second type is enzymes, hormones and other biological substances that produce remaining healthy cells.

Endoscopy. Capsule and laparoscopic techniques are implemented.
X-ray with the introduction of a contrast agent. This method allows you to establish the localization of the tumor and diagnose the direction of its growth - into the thickness of the intestine, into the lumen.

Treatment

Treatment of a malignant tumor in the small intestine depends on the degree of damage to the organ and the type of oncology. In approximately 2/3 of all cases, surgery is performed to remove cancer cells. This helps reduce the intensity of symptoms and increase the patient's life expectancy.

Important! Sometimes the operation has only palliative value, that is, it is performed with the sole purpose of alleviating the patient’s suffering.

When the implementation of the operation is impossible or the tumor formation turns out to be sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy, then it is implemented. Chemotherapy drugs inhibit the growth of cancer cells, preventing them from multiplying and developing normally.

Radiation therapy is ineffective for small intestinal cancer, which is why it is not performed. This can take place immediately after or during surgery to improve positive results. Radiation therapy is also used when surgery is impossible for some reason.

After completion of surgery, the patient is indicated for rehabilitation in order to eliminate the symptoms of oncology and try to completely get rid of cancer cells. Your doctor may prescribe the following medications:

"Oxaliplatin";
"Leucovorin";
"Fluorouracil."

At the same time, radiation therapy is implemented. But all of the above procedures can cause a large number of side effects:

poor health and weakness;
nausea with vomiting;
diarrhea;
constant headaches;
hair loss;
disruption of hematopoietic processes;
mouth ulcers;
dysfunctions of the immune system.

Due to the fact that the patient’s body is difficult to tolerate treatment, he requires the organization of adequate nutrition, which presupposes compliance with the following conditions:

Refusal of products with a high concentration of animal fats;
Consuming fiber in sufficient quantities - fish oil, soy;
Complete cessation of alcoholic beverages and smoking;
To strengthen the immune system, you can use decoctions of medicinal herbs according to folk recipes.

Quitting bad habits

Important! In severe stages of the pathology, when surgery is not practical, only radiation and chemotherapy are performed to relieve pain and other severe manifestations of oncology.

Forecast

Early diagnosis of the disease is the key to success in treatment. Long-term prognosis for small intestinal cancer depends on the stage at which the diagnosis was made and the histological nature of the malignant tumor. If the pathological process is clearly localized and does not produce regional or distant metastases, then radical resection makes it possible to achieve survival in 35-40% of cases over the next 5 years.

Patients who have been diagnosed with a precancerous disorder must be registered with a doctor and constantly monitor their own health in order to prevent a serious condition. Oncology of the small intestine is a dangerous disease, so if you develop incomprehensible dyspeptic symptoms, you need to seek advice and recommendations from a doctor.

If you want to know where the ileum is located, as well as what functions it performs, then check out this article.

More about the ileum

The segment of the ileum is the natural completion of the segment of the cecum and is located to the right of the navel, in the lower part of the small intestine.

The average length of the ileum can range from one and a half to two and a half meters.

The diameter of the intestine is disproportionately small in comparison with its length, amounting to only two and a half to three centimeters.

In women who are small in stature and have a fragile physique, the size of the ileum is smaller than in men or larger representatives of the fair sex.

The parenchyma of the ileum is covered with small villous protuberances, which are involved in the absorption of various nutrients that a person receives with food.

In addition, on the parenchyma of this organ there are shallow concave crypts, the main purpose of which is the production of mucus.

The ileum performs the following functions in the human body:

synthesizes enzymes - enzymes involved in the digestive process;
develops regulators of eating behavior;
breaks down food;
absorbs nutrients.

In the area of the ileum, through fermentation, complex substances obtained from food are separated into simple ones and the hydrolysis of already broken down components occurs.

Diseases that are characterized by complete or partial dysfunction of this organ can significantly affect a person’s well-being.

If we list specific diseases of the ileum, we should mention such pathologies as terminal type ileitis, cancer of the mucous membranes of this part of the digestive tract, hyperplasia of the mucous membranes of the lymphofollicular type.

It is worth noting that there are other pathologies that can affect the area of this section of the intestine.

You can learn more about possible diseases of the ileum during a consultation with a gastroenterologist.

If you feel unpleasant discomfort in the area of the right ilium and note the presence of other unpleasant and previously unappearing symptoms, then be sure to sign up for a medical examination.

This examination will reveal or refute the presence of a disease localized within the declared area of the digestive tract.

All the diseases mentioned above are quite severe, so their treatment must be quick and timely.

General symptoms of ileal pathologies and ileitis

It should be noted that all diseases of the ileum, such as cancer, ileitis or hyperplasia, have both similar and different symptoms.

But the symptoms of each disease characteristic of a given area are similar to each other.

Symptoms, the presence of which may directly indicate problems with the intestinal system and, in particular, diseases of the ileum:

loose, frequent stools with inclusions of undigested food particles;
frequent attacks of flatulence, heaviness in the lower third of the abdomen;
pain localized in the area of the right ilium and having an aching, sharp character.

Indirect symptoms that may indicate the presence of any disease localized in the rectal area:

decreased appetite and, as a result, sudden weight loss;
primary anemia;
inflammatory processes affecting the oral mucosa, resulting from an uncontrolled decrease in immunity;
conjunctivitis;
problems with sleep and falling asleep;
nervousness, etc.

The most common disease localized in the stated area is ileitis. This disease affects the terminal ileum.

The causes that provoke the occurrence of this disease are diseases such as typhus, ulcerative colitis, tuberculosis, etc.

In addition, ileitis localized in the terminal ileum may be a consequence of acute or chronic forms of Crohn's disease.

During a disease such as ileitis, the elasticity of the mucous membranes of the ileal segment of the intestinal tract is impaired.

With ileitis, the mucous membranes change their structure and become covered with various neoplasms of a polypous or ulcerative nature.

Inadequate or untimely treatment of ileitis can lead to intestinal cancer.

Symptoms characteristic of a disease such as terminal ileitis:

pain in the right side of the ilium, which begins to appear two to three hours after a meal;
nausea, less often vomiting;
significant increase in body temperature;
feces mixed with blood.

Treatment of a disease such as ileitis, in most cases, is conservative. It involves taking specialized drugs that have antibacterial and steroid effects.

In some cases, treatment of ileitis may be supplemented with procedures such as blood plasma transfusion.

If ileitis is accompanied by other diseases characterized by intestinal obstruction, suppuration and ulcerative formations on the mucous membranes of the ileum, then the patient suffering from the combined disease is prescribed a surgical operation aimed at complete or partial resection of all affected areas of the intestine.

Lymphofollicular hyperplasia and cancer

Another relatively common pathology that produces pain localized in the ileum is hyperplasia of its walls of the lymphofollicular type.

During this disease, the intestinal mucous membranes grow. As a rule, this problem is not independent, but a concomitant pathology.

Sometimes it may not manifest itself at all, and sometimes it may produce severe pain, informing a person about the presence of certain problems localized in the iliac region.

The main factors that provoke pain and influence the occurrence of this disease are problems caused by disturbances in the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract, hormonal imbalances, serious disruptions in the immune system, etc.

Most often, this pathology is diagnosed in conjunction with Crohn's disease or intestinal cancer.

Symptoms that may indicate the presence of lymphofollicular dysplasia of the ileum:

pain localized at the location of the problem;
frequent urge to have bowel movements;
the presence of mucus and blood clots in the feces;
refusal to eat, causing a sharp loss of fat and muscle mass;
flatulence.

Before starting treatment for this disease, the nature of the growths covering the mucous membranes of the ileum should be determined.

If during the biopsy it turns out that these growths are benign, the patient is prescribed special medications to relieve pain and is recommended to adhere to a certain and fairly strict diet.

In the presence of malignant growths, severe inflammation or ulcers that produce acute pain that does not go away even after taking “powerful” drugs, patients with lymphofollicular hyperplasia are prescribed surgery aimed at resection of the affected area.

During this operation, the ileum can be completely removed.

The last pathology that will be discussed in this article is ileal cancer. This disease is characterized by a relatively slow course.

It is worth noting that this disease is quite rare and is more common in older men than in women.

The course of ileal cancer is accompanied by the development of a tumor that grows into the lumen of this organ, deforming its walls and causing inflammation.

Symptoms characteristic of this disease:

inflammation of the ileum, accompanied by slight but constant hyperthermia and sometimes massive hemorrhages in the intestinal area;
nausea, vomiting that does not bring relief;
signs of dyspeptic disorders of varying severity;
pain localized in the lower abdomen and having an acute, spreading nature;
sudden loss of body weight;
difficult evacuation of feces from the intestines.

Treatment of cancer localized in the declared area is carried out surgically. During abdominal surgery, both the ileum and metastases are removed.

After the operation, patients suffering from this type of pathology must attend radiation or chemotherapy sessions and take pain-relieving medications.

After reading this article, you were able to learn about where the ileum is located and what diseases are most characteristic of it.

It is possible to identify these pathologies at an early stage only by undergoing regular examination of the body and being sensitive to any changes in its functioning.

If you have any of the symptoms described in this article, consult a gastroenterologist.

Ileal cancer is rare as an independent disease. As a rule, we are talking about metastases. Most often, malignant formations are represented by adenocarcinoma. There may also be lymphomas and sarcomas.

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Symptoms of ileal cancer

Clinical manifestations of cancer develop gradually. The first symptoms are dyspeptic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, impaired motor skills and severe spasmodic colic. The consequence is a decrease in appetite (aversion to food), and a rapid loss of body weight due to intoxication.

With multiple tumors, intestinal obstruction may occur, characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, first gastric contents and then intestinal contents, bloating, dry skin and dehydration. With sarcomas, intestinal bleeding is often observed. As the tumor grows, it can compress neighboring organs, which can manifest itself in the development of pancreatitis, ascites, and intestinal ischemia.

Diagnosis of ileal cancer

endoscopy with biopsy;
fluoroscopy, MRI or CT scan with contrast agent;
laparoscopic endoscopy;
To diagnose tumors of the terminal ileum, colonoscopy and irrigoscopy can also be informative;
Ultrasound of the OBP is also performed.

Treatment of the disease

The approaches are standard: the tumor is removed, after which the remaining tumor cells are “polished” with chemotherapy.

Treatment of ileal cancer is usually surgical, that is, removal of the tumor. For inoperable tumors, chemotherapy is used with drugs that suppress the growth and further development of malignant cells.

The ileum (from the Latin word “ileum”) is the lower section. This element of the gastrointestinal tract has its own functions and structure. You can find out a little about them below.

Ileum: where is it located?

The ileum is located in the right iliac fossa (or lower part of the abdominal cavity) and is separated from the cecum by the bauhinian valve, or the so-called ileocecal valve. A small part of this organ occupies the epigastrium, the umbilical region, and the pelvic cavity.

Structure

The ileum and jejunum are quite similar in structure. The entire inner layer of such an organ is a mucous membrane, which is abundantly covered with villi (raise by about 1 millimeter). In turn, the surface of these elements consists of columnar epithelium. In the center is the lymphatic sinus, as well as capillaries (blood vessels).

It should be especially noted that there are much fewer villi in the ileum than in the jejunum. However, they all participate in the process of obtaining useful and nutritious substances. Fats are absorbed through the veins, and amino acids and monosaccharides are absorbed through the veins. The entire mucous membrane of the ileum has a rather uneven surface. This is due to the presence of crypts, villi and circular folds. These formations significantly increase the total surface of the intestinal lining, which undoubtedly affects the process of absorption of digested food.

Features of the structure of the ileum

The jejunum and ileum have identical villi, the shape of which resembles leaves or fingers. It should be noted that they are found only in the lumen of these organs. The number of villi in the ileum can vary from 18 to 35 pieces per 1 square meter. mm. Moreover, they are slightly thinner than those located in the duodenum.

The intestinal crypts, or the so-called Lieberkühn glands, are depressions in the membrane, shaped like small tubes. The mucosa and submucosa of the ileum form circular folds. The epithelium on them is prismatic, single-layer, bordered. By the way, the mucous membrane of this organ also has its own submucosa, followed by muscle tissue. The latter are represented by 2 smooth layers of fibers: external (or longitudinal) and internal (or circular). Between them is loose connective tissue, which has blood vessels and nerve musculo-intestinal plexuses. The thickness of this layer decreases towards the terminal part of the small intestine. It is worth noting that the muscular layer of this organ performs the function of mixing the chyme and pushing it through.

The outer lining of the ileum is serous. It is covered with it on all sides.

Main functions of the ileum

The represented body performs several functions. These include the following:

enzyme release;
absorption of nutrients, minerals and salts;
digestion of incoming food.

Features of the ileum

The intestinal juice of this organ begins to be released under the influence of chemical and mechanical irritation of the walls by chyme. In 24 hours its production can reach 2.4 liters. In this case, the reaction of the juice is alkaline, and its dense part consists of lumps-epithelial cells that produce and accumulate enzymes. At the right moment, the cells begin to be rejected into the intestinal lumen and then destroyed, thereby ensuring cavity digestion.

It should be noted that on the surface of each epithelial cell there is a microvillus. They are peculiar outgrowths on which enzymes are fixed. Thanks to them, another level of digestion occurs, called membrane (parietal). At this stage, food is hydrolyzed and absorbed in the ileum.

As you know, intestinal juice contains exactly 22 enzymes. The main one is called enterokinase. This enzyme is designed to activate pancreatic trypsinogen. In addition, the ileum secretes juice, which contains substances such as lipase, amylase, sucrase, peptidase and

The movement of chyme into other parts of the intestinal tract is carried out due to the contraction of fibers of the muscle layer. Their main types of movement can be called peristaltic and pendulum-like. The second group of contractions mixes the chyme. As for the worm-shaped (peristaltic) waves, they move food to the distal sections.

By the way, both presented types of digestion exist in direct connection. In cavitary hydrolysis occurs of more complex substances to so-called intermediate substances. The processed foods are then broken down using membrane digestion. Next, the process of absorption of nutrients and nutrients begins. This occurs due to an increase in intraintestinal pressure, as well as the motility of muscle tissue and the movement of villi.

Disorders in diseases of the ileum

The ileum (where this organ is located is described a little above) quite often undergoes inflammatory processes. All diseases of this part of the small intestine have similar manifestations. As a rule, they are based on a violation of the digestive, excretory, absorption and motor functions. In medical practice, these deviations are usually combined under one common name - malabsorption syndrome.

General symptoms of diseases

The ileum, diseases of which can arise for various reasons, almost always makes itself felt by general signs of malaise. These include the following:

pain syndromes;
stool disorder;
rumbling in the intestines;
increased gas formation.

Quite often, patients complain to their doctors that they have long-lasting diarrhea with trips to the toilet up to 4-7 times a day. In this case, undigested food remains may be found in the stool. In the first half of the day, the patient often feels it, which usually subsides only in the evening.

The affected ileum sometimes causes pain. They can have different localization (in the umbilical region, to the right of the midline of the abdomen and under the “spoon”) and character (bursting, pulling and aching). As a rule, the intensity of such pain decreases noticeably after the gases that have formed are released.

External symptoms of ileal diseases

Diseases of this part of the small intestine may also be accompanied by extraintestinal manifestations. They are caused by impaired absorption and breakdown of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. At the same time, patients quickly lose weight and cannot gain weight. Deficiency of B vitamins and iron often leads to the development of anemia, the formation of cracks in the corners of the lips and inflammation of the oral cavity. If the body begins to lack vitamin A, this can manifest itself in dry conjunctiva and night blindness. If there are hemorrhages on the patient’s body, this indicates a vitamin K deficiency.

Crohn's disease

The most severe and common disease of this section of the small intestine is Crohn's disease (or the so-called. Usually with this diagnosis, inflammation is localized in the last 15-20 centimeters of the ileum. Rarely, the process involves the blind, thick and duodenal sections of the gastrointestinal tract.

Inflammation of the ileum, the symptoms of which we will consider below, should be treated in time. Otherwise, after 3-4 years the patient may develop complications such as intestinal obstruction, fistulas, abscesses, peritonitis, amyloidosis, bleeding and others.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease

The signs of this disease vary.

Intense pain in the right region (often reminiscent of acute appendicitis). In this case, the patient has a fever and is bothered by constant nausea and vomiting. Typically, pain occurs 3-5 hours after eating.
Development of anemia and exhaustion.
Scar changes in the ileum, which cause intestinal obstruction.
Constant constipation or diarrhea, as well as rumbling in the intestines.
Heavy bleeding or slight blood in the stool

Other diseases

Lymphoid hyperplasia of the ileum occurs against the background of an immunodeficiency state and proliferative changes in the intestinal walls. Typically, such changes are transient and often disappear without a trace on their own. The reason for the development of such a deviation may be an inadequate reaction of the intestinal lymphoid tissue, which occurs to external stimuli.

Signs of lymphoid hyperplasia

Symptoms include:

diarrhea;
abdominal pain;
blood and mucus in the stool;
increased gas formation and bloating;
weight loss;
reduced body resistance to various infections.

With severe hyperplasia, they can form. Among other things, diseases of this part of the intestine include enteritis and cancer.

Diagnosis of diseases and causes

Inflammation of the ileum is diagnosed by the external signs and condition of the patient after taking blood, urine and stool tests, as well as using such a modern examination method as fiber endoscopy. At the same time, patients often exhibit changes in the submucosal layer of the intestine. Such nonspecific abnormalities can develop against the background of diffuse polyposis, chronic tonsillitis and functional disorders in the colon.

Treatment of diseases

Usually affects only the terminal ileum. This disease is a concomitant condition and therefore does not require treatment. As for Crohn's disease, cancer and other inflammatory processes, if treatment is delayed, they can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, which subsequently leads to death. In this case, therapy consists of the use of medications, including antibacterial ones, which are prescribed only by an experienced gastroenterologist. By the way, such diseases in the later stages of development are often treated with surgical intervention.

It is also worth noting that, along with medications for the treatment of diseases of the ileum of the small intestine, a strict diet is also prescribed. As a rule, it includes only light, quickly digestible and vitamin-rich foods. In addition, the patient is strictly prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages, highly salted, spicy, fatty, fried and heavy meat, fish, and mushroom dishes. The patient's diet should include warm porridge prepared with semi-milk, day-old white wheat bread, sometimes butter, egg omelet, tea, compotes, fruit drinks, decoctions of rose hips, blueberries, and bird cherry. If you follow a diet and take all medications prescribed by your doctor, the outcome of treating an inflamed ileum will certainly be favorable.

is a malignant tumor that develops from the tissues of the small intestine and can spread to neighboring organs and throughout the body.

Malignant tumors of the small intestine are a rare disease, accounting for approximately 1% of all malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Unfortunately, the diagnosis is made in late stages, when surgical intervention is almost impossible. The reason for late diagnosis is the difficulty of instrumental examination of the small intestine, as well as the absence of specific symptoms, which leads to a late visit to the doctor by the patient.

The small intestine occupies most of the abdominal cavity and is located there in the form of loops. Its length reaches 4.5 m. The small intestine is divided into the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Cancer can develop in any part of the small intestine. Most often, cancer affects the duodenum.

Causes of small intestinal tumors

The causes of small intestinal cancer have not been fully established. In most cases, the tumor develops against the background of chronic enzymatic or inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (celiac disease, duodenitis, duodenal ulcer, enteritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis) or epithelial benign intestinal tumors, such as adenomatous polyps.

More frequent damage to the duodenum is explained by the irritating effect of bile and pancreatic juice on the initial part of the small intestine, as well as its active contact with carcinogens entering the digestive tract with food.

Other reasons may be smoking, alcohol abuse, fried foods, as well as cancer of other organs that metastasize to the tissue of the small intestine.

Types of small bowel cancer

Adenocarcinoma.
Mucous adenocarcinoma.
Signet ring cell carcinoma.
Undifferentiated and unclassified cancer.

Cancer growth form can be exophytic and endophytic.

Stages of development of small intestine cancer

Stage 1. The cancerous tumor does not extend beyond the walls of the small intestine, does not penetrate other organs, and does not metastasize.

Stage 2. The cancer tumor extends beyond the walls of the small intestine and begins to grow into neighboring organs, but has not yet metastasized.

Stage 3. The cancer has metastasized to several lymph nodes near the small intestine, but has not yet metastasized to distant organs.

Stage 4. A cancerous tumor of the small intestine has metastasized to distant organs (liver, lungs, bones, etc.).

Symptoms of small intestine cancer

At first, small intestinal cancer shows no symptoms. The first signs occur with the development of more pronounced narrowing of the intestine or ulceration of the tumor.

The clinical picture of duodenal cancer resembles peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, but aversion to food is characteristic. Most often, a symptom of cancer in this department is dull pain in the epigastric region. Irradiation of pain to the back is typical. Late symptoms (jaundice, nausea and vomiting) are associated with an increase in bile duct obstruction and closure of the intestinal lumen by a tumor.

The clinical picture of cancer of the jejunum and ileum consists of local symptoms and general disorders. The most common initial symptoms are dyspeptic disorders - nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping pain in the intestines, navel or epigastrium. Subsequently, a decrease in body weight is observed, which may be associated with both reduced nutrition and rapid tumor growth. Frequent loose stools with a lot of mucus and cramping are also among the early symptoms.

Intestinal obstruction is a complex of symptoms characteristic of varying degrees of intestinal obstruction, observed in most patients with small intestinal tumors.

Often, small intestinal cancer is accompanied by obvious or hidden blood loss.

Symptoms of general disorders include increasing weakness, weight loss, malaise, weakness, fatigue, and anemia.

A complication of small intestinal cancer is metastases to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, distant metastases are observed in the liver and ovaries.

Diagnosis of small intestine cancer

The following methods are most often used to diagnose small intestinal cancer:

Angiography of abdominal vessels.
Laparoscopy.
Computed tomography.
Magnetic resonance imaging.
A biopsy to determine the type of cells and their degree of malignancy.
Electrogastroenterography– allows you to identify disorders of small intestinal motility, which often occur with malignant neoplasms in this part of the intestine.

Treatment of small intestine cancer

Treatment for small intestinal cancer depends on the stage of the disease and the type of tumor. In most cases, they resort to surgical removal of the oncological tumor, which often leads to a reduction in symptoms and helps to increase life expectancy.

In some cases, the operation is palliative in nature, that is, it is carried out only to alleviate the suffering of the patient.

If surgery is not possible or if there is a tumor that is sensitive to chemotherapy, therapy is used using drugs that suppress the growth and prevent the development of tumor cells.

In the postoperative period, it is important not to miss a dangerous complication - intestinal paresis. To do this, it is necessary to diagnose intestinal motility using electrogastroenterography .

Doctors classify malignant neoplasms of the small intestine as C17 in the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10.

Professional articles related to small bowel cancer:

Firsova L.D., Masharova A.A., Bordin D.S., Yanova O.B. Diseases of the stomach and duodenum // – M: Planida. – 2011. – 52 S.