Imaging tumors of the small intestine

Neoplasms of the small intestine are uncommon, representing 2 to 6 % of all gastrointestinal tumors, and non specific in their clinical representation. Mainly because of their rarity these tumors present a difficult diagnostic to radiologists who usually fail to diagnose these tumors until they are advanced. A greater awareness by radiologists of their responsibility for diagnosis of small bowel neoplasms should be combined with the use of optimal barium techniques. Nevertheless, today, radiology of the small bowel encompasses not only barium studies bu computed tomography, sonography or MRI. We present here the major features of tumors of the small intestine. (author)