Prevalence and Management of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Abstract

The prevalence and characteristics of patients with confirmed gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in a community hospital over a 6-year period are described. Our objective was to communicate our experience managing this rare tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. A retrospective chart review was performed. Patients were selected based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes in correlation with their respective confirmational pathology. Patients with a diagnosis of GIST, cells of Cajal tumor, and/or different varieties of gastrointestinal sarcoma were included in this study. These tumors had to have a positive C-kit on immunohistochemistry. Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records as well as pathology reports. Follow up from attendings’ office records and telephone interviews complemented our data. A total of 61 patients was identified in our institution (averaging 10 patients per year). Females represented 63 per cent of our series. The average ages were 70.2 ± 19.1 years for females and 59.4 ± 13.5 years for males ( P < 0.01). The most common clinical presentation was an intra-abdominal nonobstructing mass followed by an endoscopically detected mass or incidental tumors found during unrelated surgery. Surgical emergencies such as acute abdomen and gastrointestinal bleed were rare. Over half of these tumors were located in the stomach. Other sites were the small intestine, colon, esophagus, and rectal–vaginal septum. Opened surgical resection was performed in two-thirds of treated cases, whereas laparoscopic resection was done in the remainder. Only 18 per cent of these tumors were considered benign, whereas 35 per cent were considered to have some malignant potential and 47 per cent were of undetermined potential. In surgically resected tumors, we found a 42 per cent recurrence rate with a median average time of recurrence of 22 months. Pathologic grading and type of surgery were not predictors of rate and timing of recurrence. However, the disease tended to be more aggressive in white males and age older than 70 years. Imatinib was used mainly in attempts to downstage, control recurrent disease, and make surgery possible. With the improvement of immunohistochemical techniques, the diagnosis of GIST is increasing. Preoperative diagnosis is highly uncertain and dependent on clinical suspicion. Surgical resection is still the main form of curative therapy. Our experience is similar to large-volume centers. GIST, once recognized, can be treated in community hospitals without compromise of their care.

Laparoscopic resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Does laparoscopic surgery provide an adequate oncologic resection?

“…While they have been found in patients of all ages, the majority are found in patients between the ages of 40 and 70 with the median age of diagnosis between 60 and 65 years of age[ 6 - 8 ]. GISTs can be found throughout the GI tract with the most common location in the stomach (60%-70%), followed by the small intestine (20%-30%), duodenum (4%-5%), rectum (4%-5%), colon (< 2%), esophagus (< 1%)[ 3 , 7 , 9 - 11 ]. They are found and even more rarely outside the GI tract, including the mesentery, omentum, and retroperitoneum.…”

Optimal Endoscopic Resection Technique for Selected Gastric GISTs. The Endoscopic Suturing System Combined with ESD—a New Alternative?

“…After the confirmation of malignancy potential, regular follow-up for most GISTs with the diameter below 10 mm is widely accepted. Nevertheless, in case of GISTs with the diameter > 10 mm, R0 resection should be considered [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Performance of risk stratification systems for gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A multicenter study

“…What’s more, only 18% of these tumors were considered benign, whereas 35% were considered to have some malignant potential and 47% were of undetermined potential. A 42% recurrence rate with a median time to recurrence of 22 months was found in surgically resected tumors[ 3 ].…”