The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) increased significantly in the United States and worldwide in the last two decades of the 20th century; most of this increase has been attributed to the HIV epidemic. The incidence of NHL appeared to…
Epidemiology Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal, or nonepithelial, neoplasms of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GISTs may be found anywhere in the GI tract, from the esophagus to the internal anal sphincter. The most common GI location…
In 1867 Theodor Langhans reported the first description of a carcinoid tumor in a 50-year-old woman with a mushroom-shaped small bowel tumor that contained nesting glandular structures within a fibrous stroma. Otto Lubarsch subsequently described autopsy findings of two patients…
The “normal” length of an adult human's small intestine has been estimated between 20 and 22 feet, or 609 and 670 cm. Past estimates of normal small intestine length have been between 300 and 800 cm, and this variability is based on…
The first record of radiation enteritis was described in 1897 and involved transient symptoms of pain and diarrhea that correlated with radiation exposure. The symptoms did not return after a lead shield was used during the experiments. Fifty to 70%…
Small bowel diverticular disease occurs in 0.3% to 20% of the population and is much less common than large bowel diverticular disease, which is present in 15% to 40% of adults. Of those with small bowel diverticula, only 4% will…
A fistula is an abnormal communication between two epithelialized surfaces. Over the past half century, the mortality associated with gastrointestinal fistulas has decreased from 40% to 60% to approximately 15% to 20% of patients. This improvement in prognosis is attributable…
Crohn disease is an incurable, chronic disease of unknown etiology, which along with ulcerative colitis comprises inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn disease is characterized by transmural inflammation that can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus,…
Intestinal obstruction is a commonly encountered surgical condition. The diagnosis is made with a history of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, signs of abdominal distention and tenderness, and imaging displaying dilated bowel with air-fluid levels. Adhesive disease is the etiology of…
The term volvulus derives from the Latin word volvere, meaning to turn or roll. Clinically, volvulus refers to a greater than 180-degree twisting of a hollow organ about its mesentery, resulting in luminal obstruction, impaired venous return, and eventually ischemia…