Endoscopic resection of gastric glomus tumor: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Objectives Gastric glomus tumor (GGT) is a rare mesenchymal tumor, mostly located in the gastric antrum region, and occasionally displays malignant behavior. Due to the lack of typical endoscopic or clinical features that distinguish GGT from other gastric submucosal tumors, the diagnosis is based primarily on postoperative histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. The first-line treatment is either local laparoscopic resection or open surgical intervention. Endoscopic resection techniques can also be used to successfully treat such lesions. Case presentation This case report presented a 39-year-old woman suffering from anorexia for the past 15 days. Barium upper gastrointestinal radiography suggested a benign space-occupying lesion in the antrum region. Endoscopically, a non-ulcerative, smooth submucosal lesion was observed in the greater curvature of the antrum. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination revealed a hypoechoic lesion with an anechoic zone in the center, originating from the muscularis propria layer of the stomach wall, which could be a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Conclusions The lesion was successfully removed via submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER). Based on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, the patient was diagnosed with GGT.