Gastrointestinal Complications of Malignancy

Abstract

Primary gastrointestinal malignancy, particularly colon cancer, is the most common visceral tumor in humans. As in other cancers, the clinical management of intestinal tumors is related to the natural history of that tumor, the stage or extent of disease, and the responsiveness of the tumor to various therapeutic modalities. Tumors within the gastrointestinal system are often occult for long periods and present clinically only after extensive disease is already established. Furthermore, gastrointestinal tumors are generally resistant to therapeutic radiation and chemotherapy. The resistance of gastrointestinal tumors to these modalities is an important consideration in determining a therapeutic approach to the major complications of intra-abdominal malignancy.