Original Paper

Duodenal Leiomyosarcoma
G.A. Petralia, P.D. Hansen, R.C. Bowyer, R.C.N. Williamson

Department of Surgery, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Dig Surg 1999;16:22-25 (DOI: 10.1159/000018689)

  Key Words

• Duodenum
• Leiomyosarcoma
• Small bowel

  Abstract

Malignant stromal tumours of the duodenum are rare. The efficacy of surgical resection for duodenal leiomyosarcoma was assessed in 5 patients treated over an 11-year period, probably the largest series treated by a single surgeon. There were 3 women and 2 men with an age range of 27-52 years. Tumours were large (8.5-21 cm diameter) and partly cystic (4 cases). They arose from the second (2), third (2) and fourth parts of the duodenum. Resection was a major undertaking and comprised either partial duodenectomy (n = 4) or Whipple resection. Two patients required a right hemicolectomy in addition. Two patients with positive resection margins had adjuvant radiotherapy. Operative time ranged from 4.0 to 6.25 h and blood loss from 1.8 to 4.5 litres. Two patients developed complications: a transient low-output biliary fistula and an infected haematoma requiring percutaneous drainage. The 2 patients with incomplete resection died of recurrent disease at 3 and 15 months. The 3 survivors are free of disease at 24, 60 and 66 months. The results support a policy of aggressive resection despite the technical difficulties posed by these large and vascular tumours.

  Author Contacts

Prof. R.C.N. Williamson
Department of Surgery, Imperial College School of Medicine
Du Cane Road
London W12 ONN (UK)
Tel. +44 181 383 3210, Fax +44 181 383 3023, E-Mail rcwillia@rpms.ac.uk

  Article Information

Received: Received: February 20, 1998
Accepted: May 25, 1998
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 20