A Rare Case of Medullary Carcinoma of the Ileum

Medullary carcinoma of the small intestine is an exceedingly rare tumor. These tumors account for less than 0.04% of all colorectal cancers and only one case to date has been reported in the ileum. Although the clinical manifestations can be consistent with signs of intestinal obstruction, often times they are discovered incidentally in an asymptomatic patient. Major contributing risk factors to the development include long standing inflammation such as Crohn's disease, and other chronic inflammatory illnesses. Tumor markers and imaging can aid in the diagnosis, however biopsy is needed for definitive diagnosis. Despite the fact that the development of these tumors in the ileum is rare, further enhancement of awareness can aid in the appropriate early detection and appropriate treatment modalities.