Small Intestine Cancer

There are five types of small intestine cancer: adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and lymphoma. The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program estimates that 12,440 people were diagnosed with small intestine cancers in the United States in 2024, and 2,090 deaths from these cancers occurred. The five-year relative survival rate is estimated to be 70.2%.

Adenocarcinoma starts in glandular cells in the lining of the small intestine and is the most common type of small intestine cancer. These tumors tend to form in the part of the small intestine near the stomach, and they can grow to block the intestine.

Eating a high-fat diet and having Crohn’s disease or celiac disease increase the risk of developing small intestine cancer. In addition, having familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a risk factor for this form of cancer.

Small Intestine Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute