Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma in the Setting of Crohn’s Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

This study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review of small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) associated with small bowel Crohn’s disease (CD). A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases. Data regarding demographics, presentation, diagnosis, treatment and survival were extracted. The review included articles that reported the location of SBA in the setting of CD and excluded articles that did not state the CD location and/or cancer type. We identified 218 patients diagnosed with SBA in the setting of small bowel Crohn’s disease. SBA should be in the differential diagnosis in patients with long-standing ileal CD presenting with small bowel obstruction, anaemia and perforation. SBA in the setting of CD presents diagnostic and treatment challenges; however, a high clinical index of suspicion may lead to early diagnosis and increased survival.

Keywords

• adenocarcinoma of the small bowel
• crohn’s disease
• small bowel cancer