Clinical features and prognosis of malignant small bowel tumors: Experience from a university hospital in Chile.

Background: Small bowel tumors (SBT) are infrequent and represent a small proportion of digestive neoplasms. There is scarce information about SBT in Latin America.

Aim: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and survival of malignant SBTs.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to small bowel disorders through capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy].

Many small bowel disorders represent a great challenge for gastroenterologists and endoscopists due to the very low rates of success showed by the different agnosis techniques. The advent of the capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy has allowed a total, secure and efficient examination of the small bowel, which represents a real impact in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of our patients. The capsule endoscopy is a safe, minimally invasive procedure, which does not need sedation, does not cause pain, and allows the observation of the totality of the small bowel.