Small intestinal adenocarcinoma in Crohn's disease: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Small bowel adenocarcinoma is an uncommon complication of Crohn's disease. We sought to describe the clinical features, outcomes, and risk factors of small bowel adenocarcinoma in Crohn's disease.


METHODS
A centralized diagnostic index identified all patients with Crohn's disease with small bowel adenocarcinoma evaluated at our institution between 1976 and 2000, and the medical records were abstracted. Two controls with Crohn's disease were selected for each case, matched by gender and age.


RESULTS
Nine cases (four males) were identified. The patients presented with abdominal pain (89%), obstruction (89%), and weight loss (78%). Cancer was located in the ileum in 8 patients (89%) and the jejunum in 1 patient (11%). All cases but 1 had either lymph node involvement or metastasis. All cases had surgery, with 1 receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. No significant risk factors were found. The mortality rates at 1 and 2 years were 42% and 61%.


CONCLUSIONS
Small bowel adenocarcinoma is a rare complication of Crohn's disease that typically involves the ileum. Affected patients have symptomatic, advanced malignancies upon diagnosis. No significant risk factors were identified.
Solem
Craig A
CA
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Harmsen
W Scott
WS
Zinsmeister
Alan R
AR
Loftus
Edward V
EV
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007078:Ileal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors