Small Bowel Cancer Screening
Because small bowel cancer is so rare, there is no standard or recommended screening for individuals at average risk. As a result, many cases are diagnosed after symptoms develop.
Screening for Small Bowel Cancer
There are no standard screening protocols for small bowel cancer. In selected high-risk individuals, specialized evaluation and surveillance may be considered.
Patients with inherited cancer syndromes or chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the small intestine may have an increased risk of small bowel cancer. For these individuals, targeted evaluation or surveillance may be appropriate.
Conditions associated with increased risk include:
- Lynch syndrome
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- Crohn’s disease involving the small intestine
- Celiac disease (less clearly established but associated in some cases)
Detection and Diagnosis Are Key
Because routine screening is not available and symptoms are often nonspecific, early recognition and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Evaluation may include advanced imaging, endoscopic techniques and biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and determine the tumor type.
As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winship is uniquely situated to provide patients with an accurate diagnosis. Patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team with experience in diagnosing and managing small bowel cancer with subsequent personalized treatments, groundbreaking research and clinical trials.