The possibilities of ultrasonography in tumors of the small intestine

Tumors of the small intestine are rare diseases. Preoperative diagnosis of these tumors is difficult, radiological methods of detection are not always effective.

Purpose: The work is devoted to the capabilities of ultrasonography for tumors of the small intestine.

Material and methods: Behind ten years, tumors of the small intestine was diagnosed in 18 patients during ultrasonography of the abdominal cavity, in 2 patients – during transvaginal ultrasonography: (carcinoid – 7, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma – 7, leiomyoma – 2, cancer – 1, polyp – 1, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) – 2).

Results: In all patients, the tumor was diagnosed during the ultrasound examination. Different tumors had different echographic semiotics. Local hypoechoic thickening of the bowel wall was found in cancer and carcinoid. Angular deformation of the intestinal wall in the affected area was typical for carcinoid. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, we have seen: 1) large (1.8 – 8.0 cm) circular hypoechoic wall thickening of the distal ileum; 2) not circular moderate (1.0 cm) thickening with medium or low echogenicity. Two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma had multiple lesions of the small intestine. Leiomyoma and GIST were seen as round or oval knot, located next to the intestinal wall, involved the muscular layer. Two patients had a tumor cavity with a gas. More uneven contours, a large heterogeneity of structure are typically for GIST. The oval, medium echogenicity polyp was located in the lumen of the intestine. Two differential diagnostic characteristics distinguishing tumors of the colon and small intestine were: 1) localization – in the projection of the colon or in the central abdomen, 2) greater mobility for tumors of the small intestine.

Conclusions: Ultrasonography is an effective method for tumors of the small intestine. The method allows to find the tumor, to determine its organ belong, in some cases – to assume its histological nature.