Diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Objective To investigate diagnosis and treatment methods of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST).Methods 16 clinical cases with pathologically proved GIST at our hospital from January 2002 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.Results The tumors originated respectively from the stomach(n=10),the intestine(n=5),and the rectum(n=1).12 cases received curative resection.Two cases underwent palliative resection because of extensive metastasis.Among the 2 cases of hepatic metastases,one case underwent primary tumor and hepatic metastases resection,and the other could not and was followed by medicine treatment after operation.Postoperative recurrence or metastasis of GIST was found in 3 cases during an average follow-up of 22 months,with the average latency of 14 months.Two recurrent cases received reoperation,and the other case survived 12 months.Conclusion Complete resection of primary tumors and metastatic lesions are the effective treatment for GIST.If the hepatic metastases were not resected,medicine should be followed after operation.GIST patients can survive with recurrent tumors for a comparatively long time.Reoperation may prolong the survival of patients with GIST who suffer from postoperative recurrence.