Adenocarcinoma of the upper small bowel complicating coeliac disease.

Abstract
Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine complicating celiac disease is uncommon. Only 14 cases were reported and in only 1 of these was a jejunal biopsy carried out more than 8 mo. before the diagnosis of malignancy. Four more patients with this association, all with long histories of celiac disease, confirmed in 3 by jejunal biopsy over 5 yr before the diagnosis of malignancy, are described. Important presenting features of carcinoma were abdominal pain, anemia, occult gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal mass and intestinal obstruction. These were also the main indications for operation. After resection of the tumor survival may be prolonged, as evidenced by 1 of these cases, who remains well 8 yr after surgery.