Published online Aug 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9437
Peer-review started: May 12, 2014
First decision: June 10, 2014
Revised: July 8, 2014
Accepted: August 28, 2014
Article in press: August 28, 2014
Published online: August 21, 2015
Processing time: 466 Days and 4.9 Hours
Primary adenocarcinoma of the small intestine occurs in over 50% of cases in the duodenum. However, its location in the third and fourth duodenal portions occurs rarely and is a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this work is to report an adenocarcinoma of the third and fourth duodenal portions, emphasizing its diagnostic difficulty and the value of video capsule endoscopy. A man, 40 years old, with no medical history, with abdominal discomfort and progressive fatigue, presented four months ago with one episode of moderate melena. The physical examination was normal, except for mucosal pallor. Blood tests were consistent with microcytic, hypochromic iron deficiency anemia with 7.8 g/dL hemoglobin. The upper and lower endoscopy were normal. Additional work-up with video capsule endoscopy showed a polypoid lesion involving the third and fourth portions of the duodenum. Biopsy showed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography showed a wall thickening from the third duodenal portion to the proximal jejunum, without distant metastasis. The patient underwent segmental resection (distal duodenum and proximal jejunum) with duodenojejunostomy. The surgical specimen histology confirmed the biopsy diagnosis, with transmural infiltration, without nodal involvement. Conclusion: Adenocarcinoma of the third and fourth portions of the duodenum is difficult to diagnose and capsule endoscopy is of great value.
Core tip: Third and/or fourth duodenal portion adenocarcinoma is a rare disease, associated with a vague clinical picture and a diagnostic challenge. Capsule endoscopy has shown a higher accuracy compared to conventional endoscopic methods. This case reports the occurrence of adenocarcinoma of the third and fourth duodenal portions and the value of capsule endoscopy to minimize the diagnostic difficulty.