Laparoscopic Transgastric Resection of a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor and Concomitant Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Case Report

Can Incidental Gastric GISTs During Bariatric Surgeries Change the Primary Plan of Surgery? A Single Team Experience and a Systematic Review of Literature

As bariatric surgeries (BS) increase, more incidental findings are liable to be discovered. Incidental gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) during BS can be found in around 0.7% of the cases. In this article, we have performed a systematic review of the literature and added our data to those of the review to review a conceptual treatment strategy to both improve patient outcomes and decrease the risk of overall cancer. With the rise of new bariatric techniques, we have proposed a new classification to BS to enhance our description of the treatment strategy.

Combined endo-laparoscopic treatment of large gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach: Report of a case and literature review

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We report a case of 75-year-old Caucasian men with unknown voluminous gastric GIST, who came to our attention complaining melena. We decided to perform a laparoscopic-endoscopic combined surgical approach.

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Intraoperative endoscopy identified gastric GIST and confirmed the submucosal origin and the integrity of the capsule. A 10 cm laparoscopic gastrotomy was carried out along the gastric found in order to realize a laparo-endoscopic rendez-vous technique.

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Laparoscopy has rapidly become a preferable approach for gastric GISTs surgical treatment. The magnified view and the lesser invasiveness of laparoscopic technique allow the surgeon to perform a more meticulous dissection, preventing unexpected bleeding and causing less muscular trauma and less bowel manipulation. All these favourable short-term outcomes associated with laparoscopy do not compromise oncologic results.

Introduction

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common malignant subepithelial lesions of gastrointestinal tract, originating from Cajal’s cells and characterized by the over expression of tyrosine kinase receptor C-KIT. The prognosis of this disease is associated with tumour size and mitotic index. Standard treatment of a GIST with no metastasis is surgical resection.

Presentation of case

We report a case of a 75-year-old Caucasian man with unknown voluminous gastric GIST, who came to our attention complaining black stool. We decided to perform a laparoscopic-endoscopic combined surgical approach. Intraoperative gastroscopy identified the gastric GIST and confirmed the submucosal origin and the integrity of the tumor capsule. A 10 cm laparoscopic gastrotomy was carried out along the gastric fundus in order to realize a laparo-endoscopic rendez-vous procedure.

Discussion

Laparoscopic approach is feasible and safe for Gastric GIST both in elective and urgent settings. Even for lesions greater than 5 cm, laparoscopy shows a recurrence rate similar to open surgery when radical resection are performed. An important point to take in consideration is surgical team experience, which seems to be one of the most important factors reducing the incidence of operative complications with better long-term outcomes, both postoperative and oncological.

Conclusion

Mini-invasive approaches for gastric GIST are safe and feasible. The combined approach both laparoscopic and endoscopic has shown to be an effective technique and it may allow a better exposure of the tumour which ensure a radical resection.

Submucosal Tunnel Endoscopic Resection of Gastric Lesion Before Obesity Surgery: a Case Series

BACKGROUND

Submucosal tumors (SMTs) of the gastrointestinal tract are a rare pathological entity comprising a wide variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. Even if most SMTs are benign tumors (e.g., leiomyomas), a smaller portion may have a malignant potential (e.g., gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)). Preoperative diagnosis of SMT in bariatric patients may arise challenging clinical dilemmas. Long-term surveillance may be difficult after bariatric surgery. Moreover, according to SMT location, its presence may interfere with planned surgery. Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) has emerged as an effective approach for minimally invasive en bloc excision of SMTs. This is the first case series of STER for SMTs before bariatric surgery.

METHODS

Seven female patients underwent STER for removal of SMTs before bariatric surgery. All lesions were incidentally diagnosed at preoperative endoscopy. STER procedural steps comprised mucosal incision, submucosal tunneling, lesion enucleation, and closure of mucosal defect.

RESULTS

En bloc removal of SMT was achieved in all cases. Mean procedural time was of 45 min (SD 18.6). No adverse event occurred. Mean size of the lesions was 20.6 mm (SD 5.8). Histological diagnoses were 5 leyomiomas, 1 lipoma, and 1 low grade GIST. Bariatric procedure was performed after a mean period of 4.1 months (SD 1.6) from endoscopic resection.

CONCLUSION

STER is a safe and effective treatment for the management of SMT even in bariatric patients awaiting surgery. Preoperative endoscopic resection of SMTs has the advantages of reducing the need for surveillance and removing lesions that could interfere with planned surgery. STER did not altered accomplishment of bariatric procedures.