[Jejunal carcinoma: apropos 8 cases].

The tumors of the small bowel are uncommon. About one-third are jejunal, for the most part adenocarcinomata. From 1976 to 1994 we operated on 8 patients affected by jejunal adenocarcinoma, mean age 59 years (+/- 15.2), range 37-78, which are 0.33% of all the malignant epithelial neoplasms of the digestive tract, treated in the same period. In six cases the diagnosis was preoperative, by x-ray or instrumental investigations. In the other two patients the neoplasm was found intraoperatively. Only five operations were curative. In six cases the neoplasm invaded the serosa and, in three, also the mesenterium. A chemotherapy was carried out in the last five patients. One of these underwent right hepatectomy for single metastasis, 26 months after the primary operation. Until now we registered three deaths, one of which for causes unrelated to the cancer. After discussing epidemiology and diagnostics, the authors evaluate the therapeutical possibilities, mainly consisting of surgery, and dwell upon technical aspects and results.