A systematic review on the clinical diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

English version of Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines 2022 for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) issued by the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology

The Japan Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines 2022 for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) have been published in accordance with the Minds Manual for Guideline Development 2014 and 2017. A specialized team independent of the working group for the revision performed a systematic review. Since GIST is a rare type of tumor, clinical evidence is not sufficient to answer several clinical and background questions. Thus, in these guidelines, we considered that consensus among the experts who manage GIST, the balance between benefits and harms, patients' wishes, medical economic perspective, etc. are important considerations in addition to the evidence. Although guidelines for the treatment of GIST have also been published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), there are some differences between the treatments proposed in those guidelines and the treatments in the present guidelines because of the differences in health insurance systems among countries.

Huge Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) in Upper Gastrointestinal Masquerade Anaemia

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) represents a rare neoplasm affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is classified as a common nonepithelial tumor within the GI tract. It originates from the interstitial cells of Cajal, and GIST typically manifests with symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastrointestinal bleeding. This case involves a 33-year-old male who presented with GI bleeding symptoms after eight months of treatment for anemia. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGDS) revealed a singular ulcerated mass measuring 4x4cm while a computed tomography (CT) scan identified a large fundal exophytic component extending from the gastroesophageal junction to the stomach. Subsequently, the patient underwent a laparotomy and proximal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, which revealed a 12x10 cm tumor located at the fundus of the stomach. This report aims to underscore the potential for misdiagnosis in the initial presentation of GIST, emphasizing the importance of raising clinical awareness in such cases.

Evaluating nomogram models for predicting survival outcomes in gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors with SEER database analysis

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) predominantly develop in the stomach. While nomogram offer tremendous therapeutic promise, there is yet no ideal nomogram comparison customized specifically for handling categorical data and model selection related gastric GISTs. (1) We selected 5463 patients with gastric GISTs from the SEER Research Plus database spanning from 2000 to 2020; (2) We proposed an advanced missing data imputation algorithm specifically designed for categorical variables; (3) We constructed five Cox nomogram models, each employing distinct methods for the selection and modeling of categorical variables, including Cox (Two-Stage), Lasso-Cox, Ridge-Cox, Elastic Net-Cox, and Cox With Lasso; (4) We conducted a comprehensive comparison of both overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) tasks at six different time points; (5) To ensure robustness, we performed 50 randomized splits for each task, maintaining a 7:3 ratio between the training and test cohorts with no discernible statistical differences. Among the five models, the Cox (Two-Stage) nomogram contains the fewest features. Notably, at Near-term, Mid-term, and Long-term intervals, the Cox (Two-Stage) model attains the highest Area Under the Curve (AUC), top-1 ratio, and top-3 ratio in both OS and CSS tasks. For the prediction of survival in patients with gastric GISTs, the Cox (Two-Stage) nomogram stands as a simple, stable, and accurate predictive model with substantial promise for clinical application. To enhance the clinical utility and accessibility of our findings, we have deployed the nomogram model online, allowing healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide to access and utilize this predictive tool.

A rare case of gastro-intestinal stromal tumor presented with hematemesis and severe anemia from a low and middle-income country

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors with varied clinical presentations. This case report highlights the significance of recognizing atypical GIST presentations, such as hematemesis, especially in resource-limited settings.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 52-year-old male from an economically disadvantaged background presented with hematemesis and severe anemia. Initial investigations suggested iron deficiency anemia, but further evaluation revealed a gastric mass, raising suspicion of GIST. Despite limited resources, a distal radical gastrectomy confirmed the GIST diagnosis, and the patient underwent surgical resection followed by imatinib therapy.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

This case underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by GISTs and the importance of imaging studies, given their often nonspecific symptoms. Limited resources and economic constraints in low-income settings can hinder comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Access to specialized oncological services is crucial for accurate management.

CONCLUSION

Early recognition and management of GIST, even in atypical presentations like hematemesis, can significantly impact patient outcomes. This case report highlights the need for improved healthcare infrastructure in low-resource settings and calls for initiatives to ensure equitable access to diagnostic tests and appropriate treatment for rare diseases like GIST.

Outcomes of Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the Past Decade

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that represent approximately 1 to 2 percent of primary gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Owing to their rarity, very little is known about their overall epidemiology, and the prognostic factors of their pathology. The current study aimed to evaluate the independent determinants of mortality in patients diagnosed with GISTs over the past decade.

METHODS

Our study comprised 2374 patients diagnosed with GISTs from 2000 to 2017 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We analyzed the baseline characteristics, and overall mortality (OM), as well as the cancer-specific mortality (CSM) of GISTs. Variables with a p value < 0.01 in the univariate Cox regression were incorporated into the multivariate Cox model, to determine the independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses of factors affecting the all-cause mortality and GIST-related mortality among US patients between 2010 and 2017 revealed a higher overall mortality in non-Hispanic Black patients (HR = 1.516, 95% CI 1.172-1.961, p = 0.002), patients aged 80+ (HR = 9.783, 95% CI 4.185-22.868, p = 0), followed by those aged 60-79 (HR = 3.408, 95% CI 1.488-7.807, p = 0.004); male patients (HR = 1.795, 95% CI 1.461-2.206, p < 0.001); patients with advanced disease with distant metastasis (HR = 3.865, 95% CI 2.977-5.019, p < 0.001), followed by cases with regional involvement via both direct extension and lymph node involvement (HR = 3.853, 95% CI 1.551-9.57, p = 0.004); and widowed patients (HR = 1.975, 95% CI 1.494-2.61, p < 0.001), followed by single patients (HR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.154-2.028, p = 0.003). The highest CSM was observed in the same groups, except widowed patients and patients aged 60-79. The highest CSM was also observed among patients that underwent chemotherapy (HR = 1.687, 95% CI 1.19-2.392, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

In this updated study on the outcomes of patients with GISTs, we found that non-Hispanic Black patients, male patients, and patients older than 60 years have a higher mortality with GISTs. Furthermore, patients who have received chemotherapy have a higher GIST-specific mortality, and married patients have a lower mortality. However, we do not know to what extent these independent prognostic factors interact with each other to influence mortality. This study paves the way for future studies addressing these interactions. The results of this study may help treating clinicians to identify patient populations associated with a dismal prognosis, as those may require closer follow-up and more intensive therapy; furthermore, with married patients having a better survival rate, we hope to encourage clinicians to involve family members of the affected patients early in the disease course, as the social support might impact the prognosis.

Jejunal gist simulating a uterine myoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION

A small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. The manifestation of bleeding is a diagnostic challenge and could present as a life-threatening situation that needs urgent intervention.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

64-year-old woman consulted for episodes of melena and anemia. The upper and lower endoscopies were not diagnostic. Capsule endoscopy (CE) revealed a probable jejunal hemangioma, however double-balloon enteroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any intestinal nodule but MRI show a pelvic mass apparently related to the uterus confirmed by a gynecologist. Even so, the patient returned with melena, and a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan again identified a pelvic mass, highlighting that its vascularization drained into the superior mesenteric territory and seemed to invade the jejunum, with active bleeding, suspicious for jejunal GIST. A laparotomy was performed to remove the jejunal mass. Histopathology and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis.

DISCUSSION

Bleeding is a common symptom in small bowel GISTs but its diagnoses could be difficult because its location. In most cases, gastroscopy and colonoscopy are not useful and CE or imaging studies are necessary to find the cause of bleeding. Moreover, it has recently proved that bleeding is a prognostic risk factor because it is related to tumor rupture and tumor invasion of blood vessels.

CONCLUSION

In this case, bleeding caused by small bowel GIST was misdiagnosed in endoscopic procedures and the clinical management was delayed. CT angiography was the most effective investigation to detect the source of bleeding.

Acute abdomen secondary to perforated jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumor and imatinib-related isolated pericardial effusion in a 50-year-old female patient: A case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract; occurring most often in the stomach and to a lesser extent in the jejunum. The majority of the tumors express activating mutations in either c-KIT or PDGFRA tyrosine kinases, which respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Jejunal GIST is considered to be extremely rare and challenging to diagnose due to its non-specific presentation. As a result, patients usually present at an advance stage of the disease, making the prognosis poor and difficult to manage.

CASE PRESENTATION

In the present study, we report a 50-year-old female who was diagnosed with metastatic jejunal GIST. She was commenced on Imatinib (TKI) and shortly after she presented to the emergency department with an acute abdomen. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed ischemic changes in the jejunal loops and pneumoperitoneum. The patient required emergency laparotomy due to perforated GIST, and creation of pericardial window due to hemodynamic instability possibly secondary TKI-related isolated pericardial effusion.

CONCLUSION

Jejunal GIST is rare and usually presents as emergency due to obstruction, hemorrhage or rarely perforation. Although, systemic therapy with TKI is the principal treatment for advance disease, Jejunal GIST should be removed surgically. It is surgically challenging due to the anatomical complexity of the tumor. Surgeons treating such patients must be cautious for TKI side effects.

Artificial intelligence-assisted endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is useful for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), but is limited by subjective interpretation. Studies on artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnosis are under development. Here, we used a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of AI in the diagnosis of GISTs using EUS images.

METHODS

PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, Web of science, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies based on the EUS using AI for the diagnosis of GISTs, and a meta-analysis was performed to examine the accuracy.

RESULTS

Overall, 7 studies were included in our meta-analysis. A total of 2431 patients containing more than 36,186 images were used as the overall dataset, of which 480 patients were used for the final testing. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative likelihood ratio (LR) of AI-assisted EUS for differentiating GISTs from other submucosal tumors (SMTs) were 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.95), 0.82 (95% CI 0.75-0.87), 4.55 (95% CI 2.64-7.84), and 0.12 (95% CI 0.07-0.20), respectively. The summary diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under the curve were 64.70 (95% CI 23.83-175.69) and 0.950 (Q* = 0.891).

CONCLUSIONS

AI-assisted EUS showed high accuracy for the automatic endoscopic diagnosis of GISTs, which could be used as a valuable complementary method for the differentiation of SMTs in the future.

An unusual case of multiple gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the small bowel presenting as occult and overt gastrointestinal bleeding

We present a case report of a 59-year-old woman with multiple gastrointestinal stromal tumors as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. She initially presented with recurrent iron deficiency anemia and subsequent gastrointestinal bleeding over 10 years. An initial angiodysplastic lesion was identified, treated, and spot tattooed. Recurrent symptoms occurred leading to repeat investigations with a further subepithelial lesion with ulceration being identified. Computerized tomography enterography subsequently revealed an ileal intraluminal enhancing lesion, and she was referred to surgery. Surgical resection was ultimately performed, and multiple lesions were found to be present with histology revealing multiple gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Needle tract seeding and abdominal recurrence following pre-treatment biopsy of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): results of a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare abdominal tumors. Pretreatment biopsies may be used to diagnose a GIST and enable tailored treatment. Some experts are skeptical about biopsies because they fear tumor cell seeding. The objective of this study was to determine if pretreatment biopsy is associated with increased tumor recurrence.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search and included studies assessing the oncological outcome of GIST patients who underwent a pre-treatment core needle biopsy or fine needle aspiration. We assessed methodological quality with the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale for non-randomized studies. This review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021170290).

RESULTS

Three non-randomized studies and eight case reports comprising 350 patients were eligible for inclusion. No prospective study designed to answer the review question was found. One case of needle tract seeding after percutaneous core needle biopsy of GIST was reported. None of the studies reported an increased rate of abdominal recurrence in patients with pretreatment biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

The existing evidence does not indicate a relevant risk of needle tract seeding or abdominal recurrence after pre-treatment biopsy of GIST. Biopsy can safely be done to differentiate GIST from other tumors and to select the most appropriate treatment.

Jejunal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) as a Rare Cause of GI Bleed: A Case Report

Jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare cause of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Early diagnosis for patients with jejunal GIST is often challenging, which can lead to delays in treatment. We present a case of a 32-year-old male patient with persistent abdominal pain and hematemesis despite treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Upon initial ER visit, CT result was consistent with intra-abdominal abscess and the patient underwent interventional radiology (IR) drainage. On a second ER visit three weeks later, CT showed a suspicious lesion in the small bowel. The patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy which revealed a mass in the jejunum. The lesion was resected successfully and pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of GIST with positive immunohistochemistry marker cluster of differentiation (CD)117. The patient was discharged with no complications post-operatively. In conclusion, recurrent GIB and unusual imaging findings should raise clinical suspicion for alternative causes for GIB, including tumors such as GIST.

GIST presenting as refractory iron-deficiency anaemia in paediatric patient

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are very rare gastrointestinal (GI) mesenchymal tumours affecting only 0.02 children/million/year below the age of 14 years. We reported a 9-year-old girl presented to emergency department with pallor and haemoglobin of 50 g/L. Extensive workup for anaemia suggested iron-deficiency anaemia secondary to GI loss. Ultimately after blood transfusion of packed cells, she was discharged with a haemoglobin of 92 g/L with iron supplementation. Upper endoscopy showed incidental antral nodularity with biopsy proven helicobacter gastritis and an isolate 3-4 cm suspicious mass in the lesser curvature. Abdomen imaging confirmed the gastric mass in addition to two lesions, one retroperitoneal and one paraspinal. She undergone open laparotomy with complete surgical resection of the gastric and retroperitoneal masses with histological confirmation of GIST and paraganglioma. This case emphasises the importance of proper examination of the stomach at endoscopy and to illustrate that although anaemia is common in paediatric age group it may be reflect serious medical condition even in normal looking child.

Development and validation of a novel diagnostic model for initially clinical diagnosed gastrointestinal stromal tumors using an extreme gradient-boosting machine

Introduction

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common gastrointestinal soft tissue tumor. Clinical diagnosis mainly relies on enhanced CT, endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), but the misdiagnosis rate is still high without fine needle aspiration biopsy. We aim to develop a novel diagnostic model by analyzing the preoperative data of the patients.

Methods

We used the data of patients who were initially diagnosed as gastric GIST and underwent partial gastrectomy. The patients were randomly divided into training dataset and test dataset at a ratio of 3 to 1. After pre-experimental screening, max depth = 2, eta = 0.1, gamma = 0.5, and nrounds = 200 were defined as the best parameters, and in this way we developed the initial extreme gradient-boosting (XGBoost) model. Based on the importance of the features in the initial model, we improved the model by excluding the hematological features. In this way we obtained the final XGBoost model and underwent validation using the test dataset.

Results

In the initial XGBoost model, we found that the hematological indicators (including inflammation and nutritional indicators) examined before the surgery had little effect on the outcome, so we subsequently excluded the hematological indicators. Similarly, we also screened the features from enhanced CT and ultrasound gastroscopy, and finally determined the 6 most important predictors for GIST diagnosis, including the ratio of long and short diameter under CT, the CT value of the tumor, the enhancement of the tumor in arterial period and venous period, existence of liquid area and calcific area inside the tumor under EUS. Round or round-like tumors with a CT value of around 30 (25–37) and delayed enhancement, as well as liquid but not calcific area inside the tumor best indicate the diagnosis of GIST.

Conclusions

We developed a model to further differential diagnose GIST from other tumors in initially clinical diagnosed gastric GIST patients by analyzing the results of clinical examinations that most patients should have completed before surgical resection.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-021-02048-1.

Surgical Resection Is Still Better Than Endoscopic Resection for Patients With 2-5 cm Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Background

The management of 2-5 cm gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) is still debated between surgeons and endoscopists. We aimed to investigate short-term and long-term outcomes between surgical resection (SR) and endoscopic resection (ER).

Methods

This study included 67 and 215 patients between 2010 and 2020 who underwent ER and SR, respectively. After propensity score matching, the clinical outcomes were compared. Individual patient information that requires special instructions is also summarized.

Results

After matching, the operation time (P=0.005) and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.005) were significantly longer in the SR group than in the ER group. However, there were no significant differences in blood loss (P=0.741), resection margin (P=1.000) or time to liquid diet (P=0.055). Statistical differences were also seen in en bloc resection (P<0.001) and adverse events (P=0.027). The recurrence rate did not differ significantly between the two techniques, and the mitotic index and ulceration were identified as independent prognostic factors of progression-free survival.

Conclusions

ER might be comparable to SR for the treatment of 2-3 cm gastric GISTs. SR is still considered the standard treatment for 3-5 cm gastric GISTs, while the intraoperative and postoperative information of ER should be recorded in detail and closely evaluated. Surgical resection is recommended if the tumour has a high mitotic index or mucosal ulceration.

Imatinib-Resistant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Presenting as a Large Abdominal Mass

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the stromal or mesenchymal neoplasms affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Although they constitute 1% of primary gastrointestinal tumors, they are the most common nonepithelial tumors involving the gastrointestinal tract. They mostly present as overt or occult gastrointestinal bleeding. We present a case in which a 77-year-old female presented with a large abdominal mass. The origin of the mass was unclear on CT and MRI scan of the abdomen. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic ultrasonography showed a cystic lesion in the perigastric region. A fine-needle biopsy of the lesion was performed, which was consistent with spindle type GIST. After the initial failure of imatinib therapy, the tumor was managed surgically.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors-A Mini Review

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. They are potentially malignant, and have an unpredictable evolution. The origin of these tumors is in the interstitial cells of Cajal, which are cells that are interposed between the intramural neurons and the smooth muscle cells of the digestive tract. GISTs are characterized by mutations in the gene c-Kit, but also other mutations, such as those of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha. The most common locations of these tumors are the stomach and small intestine, although they can occur at any level of the digestive tract and occasionally in the omentum, mesentery and peritoneum. Most cases of GISTs are sporadic, and about 5% of cases are part of family genetic syndromes. The correct diagnosis of GIST is determined by histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry. According to histopathology, there are three main types of GISTs: spindle cell type, epithelioid type and mixed type. The therapeutic management of GIST includes surgery, endoscopic treatment and chemotherapy. The prognosis of patients with GIST varies depending on a number of factors, such as risk category, GIST stage, treatment applied and recurrence after treatment.

Refractory hypoglycaemia in a localised gastrointestinal stromal tumour: Case report

INTRODUCTION

GIST and NICTH are mesenchymal in origin however there are very few reports of GIST associated with NICTH which is a para neoplastic syndrome, generally diagnosed when a tumour induced hypoglycaemia is noted.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 46 years old female with prime complain of awareness of a mass in the upper abdomen was admitted for evaluation and further management. Detailed investigation revealed the mass to be gastrointestinal stromal tumour. On the day of admission patient was found to be hypoglycaemic which didn't resolve even after 10% glucose infusion. A growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) assay was carried out which showed an excessive reaction of basal growth hormone however corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) tests were within normal limits. She was suspected to be Non Islet cell tumour hypoglycaemia (NICTH) and hypoglycaemia resolved upon administering dexamethasone. Later she underwent chemotherapy and surgical resection after which her blood sugar levels were within normal limits.

DISCUSSION

Expression of big IGF-II on the surface of GIST be it metastatic or nonmetastatic can cause refractory hypoglycaemia and can be fatal if left untreated.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should be aware of refractory hypoglycaemia in patients with large GIST's as glucocorticoid therapy may prove to be extremely useful and lifesaving even before considering any forms of definitive management of the tumour.

Spindle cell neoplasms of the upper gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary tract, and pancreas by fine needle aspiration: A single institutional experience of 15 years with follow-up data

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of spindle cell neoplasms (SCN) of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, hepatobiliary tract, and pancreas detected by fine needle aspiration (FNA) is challenging. We describe a single-center experience of these samples with follow-up data and characterization of the morphologic findings.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed pathology records for all FNAs diagnostic for or suggestive of SCN on esophagus, stomach, small bowel, liver, and pancreas in a 15 year period. All cases with at least 6 month follow-up were included. Surgical material (biopsy or resection) was the diagnostic gold standard. All FNAs with subsequent surgical specimens were reviewed and assessed for cellularity, architectural features, and nuclear features.

RESULTS

In 15 years, 5101 FNAs of the upper GI tract, hepatobiliary tract, and pancreas were performed. SCN was diagnosed in 98 (2%) patients. Seventy-two patients had definitive pathologic diagnoses: 68 were neoplastic and four were non-neoplastic. Cytomorphologic review in relationship to final diagnosis revealed three statistically significant features: low cellularity favors a benign process (P = .00544), epithelioid nuclear morphology favors malignancy (P = .00278), and identification of perinuclear vacuoles favors a diagnosis of GIST over non-GIST SCN (P = .04236).

CONCLUSIONS

Among cases with follow-up, final pathologic diagnoses were SCN in 94% of cases diagnosed as SCN on FNA of upper GI, hepatobiliary tract, and pancreas. Although some cytomorphologic criteria are more suggestive of malignancy, arriving at a specific diagnosis relies on collaboration of clinical, radiologic, cytomorphologic, and immunohistochemical data.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a review of current and emerging therapies

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare neoplasms arising from the interstitial cell of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Two thirds of GIST in adult patients have c-Kit mutation and smaller fractions have platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mutation. Surgery is the only curative treatment for localized disease. Imatinib improves survival when used adjuvantly and in advanced disease. Several targeted therapies have also improved survival in GIST patients after progression on imatinib including sunitinib and regorafenib. Recently, United States Federal and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two new tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of heavily pretreated advanced/unresectable GIST including avapritinib (a selective inhibitor for PDGFRA exon 18 mutation including D842V mutations) and ripretinib (a broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor of c-Kit and PDGFRA). In this article, we will provide a comprehensive review of GIST including the current standard of care treatment and exploring future paradigm shifts in therapy.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor as a Rare Cause of Abdominal Mass: A Case Report and Literature Review

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are soft tissue sarcomas that can arise from any part of the digestive system. GISTs represent 1% of gastric neoplasms. We report a rare case of a GIST tumor in a 59-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen with intravenous contrast revealed a left upper quadrant abdominal mass and biopsy showed GIST. She was treated with imatinib to downsize the tumor prior to undergoing surgical resection of the tumor.

Acute Gastrointestinal Bleed from a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour Impersonating an Arteriovenous Malformation of the Jejunum

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are neoplasms which originate from the mesenchymal tissue of the gastrointestinal tract. We report on a GIST presenting with acute gastrointestinal bleeding that mimicked an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) on imaging and at surgery. A 61-year-old female presented with a short history of melaena and severe anaemia. After resuscitation, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a profusely bleeding varix in the proximal jejunum which was treated with glue injection. Contrast-enhanced CT showed a heterogeneous lesion in the proximal jejunum with strong arterial phase enhancement, supplied by a branch of the superior mesenteric artery and drained by a prominent tributary of the superior mesenteric vein, suggestive of an AVM. The mass was resected, and histology revealed a GIST with no evidence of an AVM or angiodysplasia. A GIST may be considered, though imaging suggests a diagnosis of an AVM in patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal bleeds. In such circumstances, surgical resection and pathological assessment will be confirmatory.

Small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumor presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding in patient with type 1 Neurofibromatosis: Management and laparoscopic treatment. Case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. It may be asymptomatic; nevertheless, gastrointestinal bleeding is the most frequent symptom, due to mucosal erosion. Its poor lymph node metastatic spread makes GIST often suitable of minimally invasive surgical approach. The importance of this study is to increase the awareness among physicians about this condition in particular scenarios as in our case and to stress the role of laparoscopic surgery.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 74-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with hematemesis, followed by haematochezia and melena. The patient had a medical history of type 1 Neurofibromatosis (NF1). She underwent, after CT scan, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and endoscopic haemostasis. Finally, we performed a laparoscopic resection of a mass of the first jejunal loop. The postoperative period was predominantly uneventful. Pathological examination confirmed a low-risk GIST.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Proximal jejunal GIST may cause an upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. A multidisciplinary team approach is mandatory for the correct management of this disease and its complications (bleeding). GISTs are indicated as the most commonly gastrointestinal NF1 associated tumours. In case of localised and resectable GIST surgical treatment is the mainstay and laparoscopic surgery is a valid alternative.

CONCLUSION

In case of abdominal bleeding mass in a NF1 patient, it is important to keep in mind the well-known association between NF1 and GIST to facilitate the diagnosis and to quickly perform the appropriate treatment. Laparoscopic approach is safe and effective if the oncological radicality is respected.

Voluminous abdominal gastrointestinal stromal tumor of unknown origin manifested with bleeding in a young man: synchronous management of the emergency and oncological approach-case report

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, which cover about 1-2% of gastrointestinal neoplasms with an unadjusted incidence of around 1/100,000/year. They are also the most common non-epithelial neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract and they are associated with a high rate of malignant transformation. They are more common in the stomach (40-60%) while a minor part repeatedly involves jejunum/ileus (25-30%), duodenum (5%), colorectal (5-15%) and esophagus (<1%). There are also much rarer extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST): these tumors have immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics similar to GISTs and for this reason, they are called this way, EGIST can involve retroperitoneum, mesentery, and omentum, without affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical presentation depends on the primary localization of the neoplasm, however in 18% it is asymptomatic, and it is accidentally discovered during endoscopies, radiological examinations or surgical operations performed for other reasons, especially if it is small in size. More often, they are associated with non-specific symptoms such as early satiety, nausea or vomiting. Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most dangerous complication, often necessitating emergency surgery. The purpose of this case report is to describe our experience in the management of a young patient with gastrointestinal bleeding caused by an unknown voluminous retroperitoneal GIST with metastatic progression using a combined endovascular embolization and debulking-surgery approach for emergency and imatinib therapy combined with radiofrequency for the oncological approach. GIST requires multidisciplinary management, which improves both prognosis and quality of life.

Laparoscopic versus Open Resection for Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Meta-analysis

We conducted our meta-analysis to compare outcomes between laparoscopic resection and open resection for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) from all published comparative studies in the literature. Databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Web of Science, and CNKI, were searched to identify studies comparing outcomes after laparoscopic resection and open resection for gastric GISTs. The meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.1. Eleven comparative studies comprising 495 patients were identified. Patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs were found to have similar operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD], 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], -16.01 to 11.43; P = 0.74) and complications rate (odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.36 to 1.58; P = 0.46). Less intraoperative blood loss (WMD, -55.91; 95% CI, -90.26 to -21.56; P = 0.001), earlier passing first flatus (WMD, -0.89, 95% CI, -1.60 to -0.18; P = 0.01), earlier having the first liquid diet (WMD, -1.54; 95% CI, -2.44 to -0.64; P = 0.0008), and shorter hospital stay (WMD, -4.25; 95% CI, -5.63 to -2.88; P < 0.00001) were observed in the laparoscopic resection group. The recurrence rate was higher in the group of open resection compared with the group of laparoscopic resection (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.75; P = 0.01). Laparoscopic resection is safe and efficient in the treatment of patients with gastric GISTs as compared with open resection procedure. Laparoscopic resection may be a preferred treatment for gastric GISTs.

The Impact of Imatinib on Survival and Treatment Trends for Small Bowel and Colorectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to assess treatment trends and overall survival (OS) in small bowel (SB) and colorectal (CR) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with respect to the introduction of imatinib in 2008.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with SB and CR GIST were identified from the National Cancer Database (2004-2015). The primary outcome was 5- and 10-year OS. Patients were stratified by tumor site, time period (before and after imatinib), and treatment type. OS was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

A total of 8441 cases were included (SB 81.66%; CR 18.34%). Radical resection was the most common treatment (SB 42.33%; CR 38.69%). The addition of chemotherapy to radical resection for SB GIST increased between the two time periods (31.76 to 40.43%; p < 0.001), and was associated with improved unadjusted and adjusted OS (2009-2015: adjusted HR [AHR] 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.89, p = 0.002). Patients with SB GIST had better 5- and 10-year OS compared with CR (SB 69.83% and 47.68%; CR 61.33% and 45.39%; p < 0.001), even after stratifying by treatment type and tumor size and adjusting for other factors (SB 5-year AHR 1.35, 95% CI 1.19-1.53; 10-year AHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.38; each p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CR GIST are associated with lower OS than SB GIST. Radical resection is the most common treatment type for both sites. Chemotherapy with radical resection offers better OS in SB GIST, but not in CR GIST. Further studies are needed to assess the biology of CR GIST to explain the worse OS.

Intestinal tumors in neurofibromatosis 1 with special reference to fatal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)

Background

Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a genetic tumor predisposing Rasopathy. NF1 patients have an increased risk for developing benign and malignant tumors, but the occurrence of intestinal tumors has not been investigated at the population level.

Methods

In this retrospective register‐based total population study, diagnoses of gastrointestinal tract tumors were retrieved from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care for 1,410 NF1 patients and 14,030 reference persons. We also reviewed the death certificates of 232 NF1 patients who died during years 1987–2013, and specifically searched for diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

Results

The register analysis revealed an increased overall hazard ratio (HR) of 2.6 (95% CI 1.9–3.6) for intestinal tumors in NF1 compared to general population. The highest HR of 15.6 (95% CI 6.9–35.1) was observed in the small intestine. The focused analysis of NF1 death certificates and GISTs demonstrated that the GIST was the primary cause of death in seven patients.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the need for careful evaluation of NF1 patients with gastrointestinal complaints. The challenge in diagnosis is that the tumors preferably occur at the small intestine, which is difficult target for diagnostic procedures. We also show that the NF1 GISTs may lead to fatal outcome despite of benign histopathological findings at the time of the diagnosis.

Comparative clinical features and short-term outcomes of gastric and small intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumours: a retrospective study

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Recent research has shown that small intestinal GISTs exhibit more aggressive features than gastric GISTs. To compare the clinical features of gastric and small intestinal GISTs for the further prediction of different prognoses, we conducted a retrospective study. 43 patients in the small intestine group and 97 in the gastric group were collected between January 2016 and December 2017. Data on demographics, preoperative lab results, clinicopathological results and surgical management were compared between groups. Significant elements were subsequently included in logistic regression analysis for further identification. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to calculate the relapse-free survival (RFS) rate and cumulative survival rate. Univariable analysis demonstrated that underlying disease, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, lymphocyte count, haemoglobin (Hb), albumin (ALB), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), thrombin time (TT), National Institutes of Health (NIH) category, Dog1, surgical procedure types and postoperative hospitalization were different between the two groups. Among these factors, logistic regression analysis identified that patients in small intestinal group exhibited significantly higher GI bleeding rate (p = 0.022), NIH category (p = 0.031), longer postoperative hospitalization time (p = 0.001) with lower TT value (p = 0.030) than those in gastric group. The log-rank test indicated that the location of the GIST (p = 0.022), GIST with GI bleeding (p = 0.027) and NIH category (p = 0.031) were independent prognostic predictors for poor outcome regarding RFS. Regarding cumulative survival, only the location of the GIST (p = 0.027) was an independent prognostic predictor for poor outcome. Thus, we concluded that small intestine GISTs were associated with lower TT, recurrent GI bleeding, advanced NIH category and extended postoperative hospitalization. Nevertheless, future multicentre prospective study are expected to validate our results.

Feasibility of using computed tomography texture analysis parameters as imaging biomarkers for predicting risk grade of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: comparison with visual inspection

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of using computed tomography texture analysis (CTTA) parameters for predicting malignant risk grade and mitosis index of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), compared with visual inspection.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

CTTA was performed on portal phase CT images of 145 surgically confirmed GISTs (mean size: 42.9 ± 37.5 mm), using TexRAD software. Mean, standard deviation, entropy, mean of positive pixels (MPP), skewness, and kurtosis of CTTA parameters, on spatial scaling factor (SSF), 2-6 were compared by risk grade, mitosis rate, and the presence or absence of necrosis on visual inspection. CTTA parameters were correlated with risk grade. Diagnostic performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Enhancement pattern, necrosis, heterogeneity, calcification, growth pattern, and mucosal ulceration were subjectively evaluated by two observers.

RESULTS

Three to four parameters at different scales were significantly different according to the risk grade, mitosis rate, and the presence or absence of necrosis (p < 0.041). MPP at fine or medium scale (r = - 0.547 to - 393) and kurtosis at coarse scale (r = 0.424-0.454) correlated significantly with risk grade (p < 0.001). HG-GIST was best differentiated from LG-GIST by MPP at SSF 2 (AUC, 0.782), and kurtosis at SSF 4 (AUC, 0.779) (all p < 0.001). CT features predictive of HG-GIST were density lower than or equal to that of the erector spinae muscles on enhanced images (OR 2.1; p = 0.037; AUC, 0.59), necrosis (OR, 6.1; p < 0.001; AUC, 0.70), heterogeneity (OR, 4.3; p < 0.001; AUC, 0.67), and mucosal ulceration (OR, 3.3; p = 0.002; AUC, 0.62).

CONCLUSION

Using TexRAD, MPP and kurtosis are feasible in predicting risk grade and mitosis index of GISTs. CTTA demonstrated meaningful accuracy in preoperative risk stratification of GISTs.

The prognostic value of gastrointestinal bleeding in gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A propensity score matching analysis

Background and objectives

Whether gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding indicates gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) rupture and impacts prognosis is unclear. We examined the prognostic value of GI bleeding in GIST.

Methods

Primary GIST patients with (GB group) or without (NGB group) initial symptoms of GI bleeding were retrospectively studied. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to reduce confounders.

Results

Eight hundred patients were enrolled. Male gender [odds ratio (OR) = 1.517, P = 0.011], tumors in the small intestine (OR = 2.539, P < 0.001), and tumor size 5‐10 cm (OR = 2.298, P = 0.004) increased the odds of GI bleeding; age >60 years decreased the odds (OR = 0.683, P = 0.031). After PSM, 444 patients were included (222 in each group). Relapse‐free survival (RFS) (P = 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002) were both superior in the GB group. In subgroup analysis, the GB group achieved a superior RFS (P = 0.005) and OS (P = 0.007) in patients with small intestine GIST, but not stomach or colorectal GIST.

Conclusions

GIST patients with age <60, male gender, tumors located in the small intestine, and tumors 5‐10 cm in size had a higher risk of GI bleeding. GIST patients with GI bleeding had a superior RFS and OS. This difference was statistically significant only in small intestine GIST.

Clinical Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): From the Molecular Genetic Point of View

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) originating from the interstitial cells of Cajal are mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and have been found to harbor c-KIT mutations and KIT (CD117) expression since 1998. Later, PDGFRA mutations, SDH alterations, and other drive mutations were identified in GISTs. In addition, more and more protein markers such as DOG1, PKCθ were found to be expressed in GISTs which might help clinicians diagnose CD117-negative GISTs. Therefore, we plan to comprehensively review the molecular markers and genetics of GISTs and provide clinicians useful information in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of GISTs. Twenty years after the discovery of KIT in GISTs, the diagnosis of GISTs became much more accurate by using immunohistochemical (IHC) panel (CD117/DOG1) and molecular analysis (KIT/PDGFRA), both of which constitute the gold standard of diagnosis in GISTs. The accurately molecular diagnosis of GISTs guides clinicians to precision medicine and provides optimal treatment for the patients with GISTs. Successful treatment in GISTs prolongs the survival of GIST patients and causes GISTs to become a chronic disease. In the future, the development of effective treatment for GISTs resistant to imatinib/sunitinib/regorafenib and KIT/PDGFRA-WT GISTs will be the challenge for GISTs.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Rectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

A 69-year-old man presented with a rectal mass that was noted on physical examination. Flexible sigmoidoscopy confirmed the presence of a well-defined mass 3 cm from the anal verge (). Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis identified a 5.8-cm heterogeneous mass with intersphincteric extension. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed no evidence of distant metastatic disease. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration revealed a noncircumferential submucosal hypoechoic mass () with pathology significant for spindle cells staining positive for CD117, consistent with a GI stromal tumor (GIST). The patient received 5 months of neoadjuvant imatinib with great response () and subsequently underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgical resection. He continues on adjuvant imatinib and is currently without signs of recurrence at 18 months postprocedure; he is undergoing restaging CT chest/abdomen/pelvis and surveillance flexible sigmoidoscopy every 6 months.

A 4-month-old boy with gastrointestinal stromal tumor of mesocolon

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are very uncommon in pediatric patients, and they are distinct clinical-pathological and molecular deviations from their adult counterparts. Most pediatric GISTs lack the c-kit or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) genes mutations. To date, there is no published standard guidelines available for the best treatment of pediatric GISTs, especially for infant GIST. Therefore, we report a case of 4-month-old infant with GIST of mesocolon without KIT/PDGFRA mutation. We also review the clinical, biological, and genetic features of pediatric GISTs and re-think several questions that could affect clinical practice.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Distal Gastrointestinal Tract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare in occurrence, but comprise the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and affect between 15 and 20 individuals per million per year. Due to recent advancements in molecular classification of these tumors, medical therapy has provided improved outcomes to a historically surgically managed disease. This review article briefly discusses the molecular characteristics, medical and surgical therapies, and future of GIST management.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting survival in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to develop and validate nomograms for predicting long-term overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs).

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with GISTs between 2004 and 2015 were selected for the study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients were randomly separated into the training set and the validation set. Multivariate analysis was used on the training set to obtain independent prognostic factors to build nomograms for predicting 3- and 5-year OS and CSS. The discrimination and calibration plots were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the nomograms.

RESULTS

Data for a total of 5622 patients with GISTs were collected from the SEER database. Nomograms were established based on variables that were significantly associated with OS and CSS identified by the Cox regression model. The nomograms for predicting OS and CSS displayed better discrimination power than did the SEER stage and Tumour-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging systems (7th edition) in the training set and validation set. Calibration plots of the nomograms indicated that OS and CSS closely corresponded to actual observation.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomograms were able to more accurately predict 3- and 5-year OS and CSS of patients with GISTs than were existing models.

Current clinical management of gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common malignant subepithelial lesions (SELs) of the gastrointestinal tract. They originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal located within the muscle layer and are characterized by over-expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor KIT. Pathologically, diagnosis of a GIST relies on morphology and immunohistochemistry [KIT and/or discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumor 1 (DOG1) is generally positive]. The prognosis of this disease is associated with the tumor size and mitotic index. The standard treatment of a GIST without metastasis is surgical resection. A GIST with metastasis is usually only treated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors without radical cure; thus, early diagnosis is the only way to improve its prognosis. However, a GIST is usually detected as a SEL during endoscopy, and many benign and malignant conditions may manifest as SELs. Conventional endoscopic biopsy is difficult for tumors without ulceration. Most SELs have therefore been managed without a histological diagnosis. However, a favorable prognosis of a GIST is associated with early histological diagnosis and R0 resection. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) are critical for an accurate diagnosis of SELs. EUS-FNA is safe and effective in enabling an early histological diagnosis and adequate treatment. This review outlines the current evidence for the diagnosis and management of GISTs, with an emphasis on early management of small SELs.

Recurrent Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder characterized by a mutation of the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) gene, resulting in increased susceptibility for multiple tumors, namely, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)—the most common types of mesenchymal neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite these tumors' predilection for the stomach, it seems to be the least likely part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to be affected in cases of neurofibromatosis. Herein, we report a case of a 61-year-old male patient with known neurofibromatosis, who presented with acute blood loss anemia due to a recurrent gastric GIST, requiring partial gastrectomy due to its size and multiple recurrences.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A multidisciplinary challenge

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors located in the alimentary tract. Its usual manifestation is gastrointestinal bleeding. However, small asymptomatic lesions are frequently detected as incidental finding. Characteristically, most GISTs (> 95%) are positive for the KIT protein (CD117) by IHC staining and approximately 80%-90% of GISTs carry a mutation in the c-KIT or PDGFRA genes. Mutational analysis should be performed when planning adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, due to its possible resistance to conventional treatment. The arise of tyrosine kinase inhibitor has supposed a revolution in GISTs treatment being useful as adjuvant, neoadjuvant or recurrence disease treatment. That is why a multidisciplinary approach to this disease is required. The correct characterization of the tumor at diagnosis (the diagnosis of recurrences and the evaluation of the response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors) is fundamental for facing these tumors and requires specialized Endoscopist, Radiologists and Nuclear Medicine Physician. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for suspected resectable GIST. In the case of high risk GISTs, surgery plus adjuvant Imatinib-Mesylate for 3 years is the standard treatment. Neoadjuvant imatinib-mesylate should be considered to shrink the tumor in case of locally advanced primary or recurrence disease, unresectable or potentially resectable metastasic tumors, and potentially resectable disease in complex anatomic locations to decrease the related morbidity. In the case of Metastatic GIST under Neoadjuvant treatment, when there are complete response, stable disease or limited disease progression, complete cytoreductive surgery could be a therapeutic option if feasible.

Effect of Gastrointestinal Bleeding on Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

The contemporary risk classification criteria of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) may still have room to improve. The aim of our research was to analyze the impact factors for GIST patients’ relapse-free survival (RFS). Furthermore, we explore whether gastrointestinal (1) bleeding will be a valuable indicator to predict GIST patients’ prognosis.

Material/Methods

R0 resection GISTs patients were retrospectively enrolled during an 8-year period at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and all patients’ data were from the WCHSU-GIST database. Of a total of 333 GIST patients, 164 patients had GI bleeding. Univariate analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to calculate the survival and recurrence rates.

Results

Compared with non-GI-bleeding patients, GI-bleeding patients had a shorter relapse-free survival (RFS, P=0.003), but among the different risk groups, GI bleeding only affected the RFS rate of the high-risk group. A Cox regression analysis illustrated that tumor site (P<0.001), tumor size (P=0.009), mitotic index (P<0.001), tumor rupture (P<0.001), and GI-bleeding (P=0.01) were independent indicators for GIST patients’ RFS.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that the RFS of GIST patients with GI bleeding was significantly shorter than that of non-GI-bleeding patients, and GI bleeding was an independent negative factor predicting RFS, while GI bleeding had more influence among high-risk patients.

Adjuvant imatinib for patients with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a retrospective cohort study

The duration of adjuvant imatinib for high-risk patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is still controversial. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed the data of high-risk patients with GISTs to investigate the appropriate duration. All 185 patients were divided into 4 groups: <1 year (Group A), 1–2 years (Group B), 2–3 years (Group C) and >3 years (Group D). The mean recurrence-free survival (RFS) in Groups A, B, and C were 44.3, 62.1, and 86.8 months, respectively (P < 0.001); the mean overall survival (OS) in Groups A, B and C was 75.2, 88.1, and 94.7 months, respectively (P = 0.009). The 5-year RFS in Groups A, B, C, and D was 15%, 26%, 83%, and 100%, respectively (P < 0.001); and the 5-year OS was 64%, 88%, 88%, and 100%, respectively (P < 0.001). The greatest impact on unfavorable outcomes was the tumor mitotic rate (HR, 2.01, 95% CI, 1.38–2.94; P < 0.001). Duration of adjuvant imatinib was the only favorable factor (HR, −0.95, 95% CI, 0.93–0.97; P < 0.001). For high-risk patients with high tumor size or mitotic rate, or non-gastric GISTs, we recommend that more than 3 years of adjuvant imatinib is feasible.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of the Jejunum With Active Bleeding Demonstrated on Dual-Energy MDCT Angiography: A Case Report

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and may occasionally present with acute gastrointestinal bleed (GIB). Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography is extremely useful in demonstrating the tumor as well as the presence of active hemorrhage, thereby guiding subsequent interventional or surgical management. We report a case of a 38-year-old man who presented with acute-onset melena and compensated shock, whose source of bleed remained elusive on endoscopy. MDCT angiography performed on a dual-energy scanner showed a jejunal tumor with active intraluminal contrast extravasation. The tumor was subsequently resected and the patient did well on follow-up. This was one of the few instances when MDCT angiography demonstrated active bleeding in a GIST and the first such case demonstrated on a dual-energy scanner.

Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography for differential diagnosis of submucosal tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The study aims to evaluate contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CH-EUS) for the differential diagnosis of submucosal tumors (SMT) of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS

Between June 2008 and May 2015, 157 consecutive patients with submucosal lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract were evaluated by CH-EUS. This was a single-center retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a registry. The data from 73 patients who later underwent surgical resection were analyzed in this study. Surgical specimens served as the final diagnoses. The two CH-EUS variables of blood flow (hyper-enhancement vs hypo-enhancement) and homogeneity of enhancement pattern were evaluated.

RESULTS

The final diagnoses were 58 gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and 15 benign SMTs (two lipomas, five leiomyomas, five schwannomas, two glomus tumors, and one ectopic pancreas). On CH-EUS, 49 of 58 (84.5%) GISTs presented with hyper-enhancement, whereas 4 of 15 (26.7%) benign SMTs showed hyper-enhancement; 21 of 58 (36.2%) GISTs showed inhomogeneous contrast enhancement, while only 2 of 15 (13.3%) benign SMTs demonstrated inhomogeneous contrast enhancement. If hyper-enhancement was considered to indicate GISTs, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 84.5%, 73.3%, and 82.2%, respectively. If inhomogeneous enhancement was considered to indicate GISTs, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 36.2%, 86.7%, and 46.6%, respectively. In lesions of less than 2 cm, hyper-enhancement was a more sensitive indicator of GISTs than inhomogeneous enhancement.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyper-enhancement and inhomogeneous enhancement were found to be a characteristic of GISTs. CH-EUS was useful for discrimination of benign SMTs from GISTs.

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

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors of the GI tract. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of non-metastatic disease. However, the ability to provide an adequate oncologic resection using laparoscopic surgery is still an area of debate. This is a thorough review of the current literature, looking particularly at the use of laparoscopic surgery for larger GISTs and the long-term oncologic outcomes compared to the results of open surgery. Laparoscopic resections provide an adequate oncologic result for GISTs of all sizes, including those greater than 5 cm in size.

Thymosin beta-4 overexpression correlates with high-risk groups in gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A retrospective analysis by immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND

Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is a protein that is linked to a number of important biological actions and recently tumor progression and poor prognosis of some tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate Tβ4 expression in gastric GISTs and correlate with some clinicopathological characteristics related with prognosis and clinical outcome in order to add further data to the current literature.

METHODS

Tβ4 antibody was applied to the 4μm-thick paraffin sections of 57 gastric GISTs by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Tβ4 expression was found to be directly corrrelated with higher risk groups, tumor size, mitotic count, cellularity, and necrosis while it was inversely correlated with overall survival (OS) by univariate analysis (p=0.000, p=0.001, p=0.000, p=0.025, p=0.023, and p=0.042, respectively). The direct association between Tβ4 expression and risk groups were also supported by multivariate analysis (p=0.000, β=0.497, t=4.374).

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of Tβ4 was found to be related with predictive characteristics for tumor progression and adverse prognosis. Thus, we suggest that overexpression of Tβ4 might play a role in the progression of gastric GISTs and might be used as a potential prognostic tool as well as a target for novel therapies.

Clinicopathological and Prognostic Analysis of Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Presenting with Gastrointestinal Bleeding: a 10-Year Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this paper were to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of GI-bleeding GIST patients and explore whether GI bleeding is a risk factor for GIST relapse.

METHODS

Primary GIST patients with initial symptoms of GI bleeding or no GI bleeding were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

Up to 178 GI-bleeding GIST patients including 108 (60.7%) males and 70 (39.3%) females were evaluated for the clinicopathological characteristics. The stomach, small bowel, and colorectum were the tumor sites in 82 (46.1%), 85 (47.8%), and 11 (6.2%) patients. Of the 178 patients, 163 GI-bleeding patients had follow-up while another 363 patients from the total population presented without GI bleeding were followed up. Up to 526 patients who received postoperative follow-up were included in the survival analysis. Compared with the 363 non-GI-bleeding patients, GI-bleeding patients developed smaller tumors (P = 0.015) and had a longer relapse-free survival (RFS; P = 0.014). For the 163 GI-bleeding patients, a Cox regression analysis showed that the mitotic count and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio before surgery were independent prognostic predictors for poor outcome regarding RFS. For all 526 patients, a Cox regression analysis indicated that tumor location, mitotic index, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and GI bleeding were independent prognosis predictors.

CONCLUSION

Compared to non-GI-bleeding GIST patients, patients with GI bleeding were more likely to be male and to have more small intestine GISTs, smaller tumors, and a longer RFS. For GI-bleeding patients, mitotic count and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were independent prognostic indicators. GI bleeding served as a surrogate for smaller GIST and was a protective factor for GIST recurrence.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) presenting as a strangulated inguinal hernia with small bowel obstruction

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) can arise everywhere along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Their presentation in unusual locations should always be taken into account. A 74-year-old man referred to the emergency department for small bowel obstruction caused by an incarcerated inguinal hernia. A CT scan showed a mesenchymal tumour originating from the herniated bowel loop and a mass in the ascending colon. Laparoscopic resection of the mass and laparoscopic right hemicolectomy were performed. The histology showed a ruptured GIST arising from the herniated small bowel and a high-grade dysplasia villous adenoma of the right colon. GISTs can present with symptoms spanning from vague abdominal discomfort to surgical urgencies. Strangulated hernia is an extremely rare presentation, with only two cases described in the literature. A safe surgical approach was obtained with laparoscopy, maintaining surgical radicality. The ileal localisation and the pseudocapsule rupture were the main risk factors on prognostic stratification.