Cancerous (malignant) tumors in the small intestine are very uncommon, occurring in about 9,000 people in the United States each year. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of cancer of the small intestine. Adenocarcinomas develop in the glandular cells of the lining of the small intestine. People with Crohn disease of the small intestine are more likely than others to develop adenocarcinoma.
Test Overview. A brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test measures the amount of the BNP hormone in your blood. BNP is made by your heart and shows how well your heart is working. Normally, only a low amount of BNP is found in your blood.
How It Works. The BNP blood test works by measuring the level of BNP hormones in the blood. Congestive heart failure refers to sub-optimal functioning of the heart, where it no longer pumps blood as well or as efficiently as it should. This reduced rate of blood flow causes a backup of fluids in the body.