Coincident primary breast lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor: case series and molecular mechanisms

An entity that should be kept in mind: Synchronous gastrointestinal stromal tumor encountered in resection materials obtained for the detection of intra-abdominal malignancies

OBJECTIVE

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), often sporadic, arise from interstitial Cajal cells of the gastrointestinal tract or their stem cell-like precursors. Apart from tumor-associated syndromes, it has been reported that GISTs are also associated with other tumors. There is no clear information about the etiology of these synchronous tumors. In this study, we wanted to present the clinicopathological features of 13 cases diagnosed as synchronous GIST with other tumors.

METHODS

Demographic characteristics of the cases, risk of progressive disease score, tumor localization, size, and the mitotic activity of tumors along with survival status were evaluated.

RESULTS

Thirteen of 101 cases diagnosed with GIST had a primary tumor synchronous with GIST. Synchronous GISTs were located in the stomach and small intestine. Most of the cases were detected incidentally in the intraoperative and post-operative periods. Risk scores for progressive disease were categorized as low (n=1), very low (n=1), and no risk (n=11). Non-GIST tumors were located in the stomach, transverse colon, left colon, rectum, gallbladder, kidney, and retroperitoneal space. Histological tumor types were adenocarcinoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mesothelioma, and neuroendocrine tumor. Life expectancy was found to be significantly lower in synchronous GISTs.

CONCLUSION

In cases operated for non-GIST tumors, the possibility of incidental detection of GIST should always be kept in mind.

Frequency, localization, and types of gastrointestinal stromal tumor-associated neoplasia

BACKGROUND

In recent years, increasing evidence of second neoplasms associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) has been found. Numerous case reports, mostly retrospective studies and a few reviews, have been published. To our knowledge, however, no systematic review or meta-analysis of the existing data has been performed so far.

AIM

To prepare a compilation, as complete as possible, of all reported second tumor entities that have been described in association with GIST and to systematically analyze the published studies with regard to frequency, localization, and types of GIST-associated neoplasms.

METHODS

The MEDLINE and EBSCO databases were searched for a combination of the keywords GIST/secondary, synchronous, coincident/tumor, neoplasm, and relevant publications were selected by two independent authors.

RESULTS

Initially, 3042 publications were found. After deletion of duplicates, 1631 remained, and 130 papers were selected; 22 of these were original studies with a minimum of 20 patients, and 108 were case reports. In the 22 selected studies, comprising a total number of 12050 patients, an overall rate of GIST-associated neoplasias of 20% could be calculated. Most second neoplasias were found in the gastrointestinal tract (32%) and in the male and female urogenital tract (30%). The specific risk scores of GISTs associated with other tumors were significantly lower than those without associated neoplasias.

CONCLUSION

In this first systematic review, we could confirm previously reported findings of a more than coincidental association between GIST and other neoplasias. The question whether there is an underlying causal association will need further investigation. Our data suggest that even GIST with a very low risk of disease progression should prompt screening for second neoplasia and subsequent frequent controls or extended staging.