Benign tumours of the upper gastro-intestinal tract (stomach, duodenum, small bowel): a review of 178 surgical cases. Belgian multicentric study.

The results of retrospective series counting 178 cases of surgically resected stomach, duodenum and small bowel benign tumours are analysed. It is a Belgian retrospective multicentric study that extend over a mean duration of 7 years 9 months. The main symptoms are haemorrhage, dyspepsia, obstruction and invagination. The most frequent tumours are leiomyoma, adenomatous polyps, lipoma and schwannoma. Preoperative investigations are endoscopy and radiology. To finish off the gastro-duodenal tumours examinations, endoscopy is necessary and arteriography can be helpful in small bowel tumours. Operative mortality of this series is 2.2%; local and general postoperative complications are 34.2%. Observed local recurrence in 118 patients with mean follow-up of 27 months is 1.7%. The authors emphasize the surgical resection necessity of these tumours as their malignant potentiality is not inconsiderable. Considering local recurrence, malign change and afar dissemination, a long-term follow-up is recommended.