Small bowel tumors: what is the contribution of video capsule endoscopy?

Intestinal tumors represent less than 6% of digestive tumors and, because of the limitations of intestinal investigations, these tumors are difficult to diagnose. In this context, capsule endoscopy (CE) has proven effective especially in patients with obscure digestive bleeding. The aim of the present study was to calculate the frequency, and evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of CE in cases of small bowel tumors.A total of 95 patients (57 males and 38 females, mean age of 56 years) with negative endoscopy and colonoscopy results were directed to undergo CE examination.Of the 95 patients, 13 (13.7%) were diagnosed with small bowel tumors. The main indications for CE were obscure (occult and overt) gastrointestinal bleeding. The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 10 months. The final histological diagnosis was established through surgery. In our patients, this included gastrointestinal stromal tumor (nine cases), adenocarcinoma (two cases) and carcinoid tumor (two cases).This study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal tumors appears to be higher than expected in patients through the use of CE.