Clinicopathology and Outcomes of Small Bowel Metastases: A Retrospective Study of 31 Consecutive Cases

Abstract

BACKGROUND The small bowel (SB) is a rare site for distant metastasis. Few recent studies have systematically reported on the clinicopathology and outcomes of SB metastasis. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathology and outcomes of SB metastasis. METHODS A retrospective study involving patients diagnosed with SB metastasis at a single medical center between January 2009 and December 2019 was conducted. Patients with secondary SB cancer with direct invasion or peritoneal carcinomatosis by a primary tumor were excluded. The demographic characteristics of the patients, clinical patterns of primary cancer and SB metastasis, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS During the 10-year period, we identified 31 patients eligible for analysis. The female:male ratio was 8:24, and the median patient age was 63.5 years. Metastasis of lung cancer to the SB was noted most frequently. Most patients presented with abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, or abnormal imaging findings. The interval between primary cancer and SB metastasis was 19.2 months. Sole SB metastasis was noted in 20 patients (64.5%). Twenty-two (70.1%) patients underwent surgical intervention. The median survival was 6.6 months. Conclusions Distant metastasis of other primary cancers to the SB is noted extremely rarely. The presence of SB metastasis indicated extremely poor prognosis. Surgery plays an important role in ameliorating critical symptoms However, surgery does not confer survival benefits.