Limited Resection Versus Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors? Enucleation Interferes in the Debate: A European Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Feasibility and efficacy of minimally invasive limited resection for primary duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The primary duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare type of gastrointestinal tract tumor. Limited resection (LR) has been increasingly performed for duodenal GIST. However, only a few studies reported minimally invasive limited resection (MI-LR) for primary duodenal GIST.

METHODS

The clinical data of 33 patients with primary duodenal GIST from December 2014 to February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed including 23 who received MI-LR and 10 who received laparoscopic or robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD/RPD).

RESULTS

A total of 33 patients with primary duodenal GIST were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. Patients received MI-LR exhibited less OT (280 vs. 388.5min, P=0.004), EBL (100 vs. 450ml, P<0.001), and lower morbidity of postoperative complications (52.2% vs. 100%, P=0.013) than LPD/RPD. Patients received LPD/RPD burdened more aggressive tumors with larger size (P=0.047), higher classification (P<0.001), and more mitotic count/50 HPF(P=0.005) compared with patients received MI-LR. The oncological outcomes were similar in MI-LR group and LPD/RPD group. All the patients underwent MI-LR with no conversion, including 12 cases of LLR and 11 cases of RLR. All of the clinicopathological data of the patients were similar in both groups. The median OT was 280(210-480) min and 257(180-450) min, and the median EBL was 100(20-1000) mL and 100(20-200) mL in the LLR and the RLR group separately. The postoperative complications mainly included DGE (LLR 4 cases, 33.4% and RLR 4 cases, 36.4%), intestinal fistula (LLR 2 cases, 16.7%, and RLR 0 case), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (LLR 0 case and RLR 1 case, 9.1%), and intra-abdominal infection (LLR 3 cases, 25.0% and RLR 1 case, 9.1%). The median postoperative length of hospitalization was 19.5(7-46) days in the LLR group and 19(9-38) days in the RLR group. No anastomotic stenosis, local recurrence or distant metastasis was observed during the follow-up period in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive limited resection is an optional treatment for primary duodenal GIST with satisfactory short-term and long-term oncological outcomes.

Surgical strategies for duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors

PURPOSE

Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. For localized or potentially resectable GISTs, surgery is the first choice. But the important and complex anatomical structure adjacent to the duodenum makes surgical management for duodenal GISTs challenging and few comprehensive surgical strategies have been described. This study aims to provide new comprehensive surgical strategies for duodenal GISTs by summarizing the surgical approaches and outcomes of duodenal GISTs in different locations in our center in the past 11 years.

METHODS

Information from patients who underwent surgical resection for duodenal GISTs at our facility during the past 11 years was retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients have received surgical procedures in the facility. Twenty-three, 31, 3, and 35 patients underwent wedge resection, segmental resection, pancreatic head-preserving duodenectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy, respectively. The mean operative times were 212.6 (150-270), 260 (180-370), 323 (300-350), and 354.9 (290-490) min; the mean blood loss was 226.1 (100-400), 303.2 (100-600), 500 (400-600), and 582.9 (200-1300) ml, respectively. R0 margins were obtained in 21, 29, 3, and 32 patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

For duodenal GISTs without invasion of the ampulla of Vater or the pancreatic head, a limited resection (such as wedge resection, segmental resection, or pancreatic head-preserving duodenectomy) is feasible. For duodenal GISTs with an invasion of the ampulla of Vater or the pancreatic head, a pancreaticoduodenectomy is still necessary.