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.
BNP is shorthand for brain (or B-type) natriuretic peptide. The name is somewhat misleading, as BNP has nothing to do with the human brain. BNP is a naturally occurring signaling hormone in the blood, and is produced by human heart muscle. Because the molecule was first discovered in the brain tissue of pigs, however, the âbrainâ term has persisted.