Primary adenocarcinoma of the terminal ileum simulating Crohn's disease

An unusual case of histologically proven ileal adenocarcinoma mimicking regional enteritis in a 22-year-old man is reported. Although in 2 previous reports the patient's age was stressed as an important factor for the differential diagnosis, this was not of diagnostic help in our case. This report emphasizes the need to include other diagnostic possibilities when regional enteritis has an anomalous evolution and responds poorly to treatment.