Diffuse neuroendocrine tumor of the small bowel: an exceptional case with long survival and literature review.

Malignant tumors of the small intestine are uncommon. Carcinoid tumors represent 20% of all malignancies occurring in this segment. We report the case of a 53-year-old female who was treated surgically for intestinal obstruction secondary to carcinoid tumors diffuse to the small intestine. This is the first case described in the literature. Carcinoids are considered less aggressive than the more common intestinal adenocarcinomas, but because of the extensive localization of the neoplasm this case can be considered a high-grade malignancy with an aggressive pattern of growth. Surgical resection, although noncurative in this case, can provide the patient with a long survival rate and a good quality of life.