Primary malignant tumours of the small intestine of the small intestine are rare; they only represent around 2% of malignant tumours in the gastrointestinal system. Small intestine lymphomas represent less than one fifth of them.
They create a quite heterogeneous group of mainly B-cell type non-Hodgkin´s lymphomas Their more difficult diagnostics ensues from their localisation with a need to use specialised endoscopy, imaging and immunohistochemical methods. Determination of the diagnosis is usually delayed due to the non-specific symptoms of the disease.Quite frequently we can experience complications.
A spontaneous performation of the small intestine requiring an urgent surgical solution occurs in 9% of patients. Capsule endoscopy and balloon enteroscopy, witch have so far been the gold standard of the diagnostics of small intestine diseases, have an irreplaceable role in the diagnostics.
Co-operation of a gastroenterologist, a pathologist and a hemato-oncologist is necessary as regards early diagnostics and therapy for these diseases as well as for further follow-up care of patients with a small intestine lymphoma.