GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE FROM BENIGN TUMORS OF THE DUODENUM

SEVERAL investigators¹ have emphasized that even though benign tumors of the small bowel occur rarely, they should be considered in differential diagnosis of unexplained bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. Rankin and Newell² have noted that bleeding occurred from benign tumors of the duodenum more frequently than from similar lesions located elsewhere in the small bowel. A majority of these neoplasms are asymptomatic and are discovered either at operation or autopsy. However, hemorrhage is the commonest symptom associated with them and may be the only one.

Diagnosis of bleeding duodenal neoplasms is often difficult to make. There is no clinical syndrome that is peculiar to these lesions, and roentgenographic studies may be of no aid. Because of the retroperitoneal location of the duodenum, palpation and transillumination of the region are difficult. Small duodenal tumors are thus more easily overlooked than are those in the jejunum and ileum. We wish