Carcinoid Tumor of the Jejunum with Perforation

Abstract

Perforation is a rare complication of intestinal carcinoid tumor. Only 11 cases have been reported in the literature and most of them were located at the ileum, appendix, and Meckel's diverticulum. A 71-year-old woman presented with postprandial abdominal fullness and complained of significant body weight loss within the previous two months. During admission, she was suffering from acute abdomen. Computed tomography showed free air in the abdomen. Urgent exploratory laparotomy disclosed a predominantly submucosal tumor extending through the thickness of the muscle layer and mucosa with transmural perforation at the jejunum. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were typical of carcinoid tumor. We herein report perforation of a small bowel carcinoid tumor at an unusual site.