title: Neuroendocrine tumor of the small intestine diagnosed with trans-abdominal ultrasonography: A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumors of the small intestine are rare. In addition, clinical symptoms are nonspecific and neoplasm-related symptoms occur late. We report a case of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the small intestine that was diagnosed early with trans-abdominal ultrasonography (US).
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was a 61-year-old man. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed because the patient complained of abdominal pain. The CT showed a tumor lesion in the mesentery. Trans-abdominal US was undertaken to evaluate this tumor lesion, and a tumor lesion of the small intestine was found nearby. A diagnosis of lymph-node metastasis of a small-intestine tumor was made as a preoperative diagnosis. A laparotomy was performed with partial resection of the ileum, together with the small-intestine mesentery including an enlarged lymph node. Histological examination revealed NET of the ileum and lymph-node metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the application of trans-abdominal US, we could diagnose lymph-node metastasis of a small-intestine tumor relatively early and before surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trans-abdominal US is useful in the diagnosis of small-intestine NET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan. Electronic address: tsujikazuma1978@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsujimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasukatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takushi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teruya
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iha
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Morihito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakachi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tomishiro Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gakiya
keywords: Case report; Neuroendocrine tumor; Small intestine; Trans-abdominal ultrasonography