Metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor mimicking a right incarcerated inguinal hernia

Summary Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common malignant mesenchymal neoplasms of the digestive tract. Although surgery yields a high cure rate for low-risk GISTs, it can seldom cure high-risk tumors because the postoperative recurrence rate of GISTs is typically high; however, the prognosis substantially improves after imatinib mesylate therapy. A case is reported of recurrent GIST presenting as an incarcerated inguinal hernia to emphasize the importance of adjuvant therapy, particularly when treating advanced GISTs. Malignancy in the hernia sac should be considered if a patient has a history of intraabdominal malignancy.