Abstract

BODEGA QUIROGA, I. et al. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): series of the Defense Central Hospital «Gómez Ulla». Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2013, vol.69, n.3, pp.173-181. ISSN 1887-8571.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1887-85712013000300004.

Introduction: Since a little more than a decade the gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have been differentiated from the tumors of smooth muscle and of neural origin by immunohistochemical methods (CD117). Simultaneously the introduction of imatinib mesylate, utilized in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has improved the life expectancy, not only in unresectable or metastatic GIST, but also in those of high or intermediate degree of malignancy as adjuvant therapy or even as neoadjuvant therapy. Objective: To study the GIST diagnosed and operated in the Department of General and Digestive Surgery of the Defense Central Hospital in 9 years and to review the literature mainly focused on therapeutic advances. Material and Methods: Retrospective observational study of the GIST patients diagnosed and operated in our Department from 2003 to 2012. The reason for the initial consultation, localization, histologic grade and type of surgery performed are analyzed. Results: Eleven patients, all male, were diagnosed between November 2003 and April 2012. Average age was 65.17 (range 53-84). It must be emphasized that in 8 cases (72.7 %) the finding was incidental, without any previous symptoms. The most frequent localization was the stomach in 6 cases (54.5%) and the small intestine in 5 (45.5%). As far as the malignancy risk is concerned 5 cases (45.5%) were low grade, 4 cases (36.4%) intermediate grade, 1 case (9%) very low grade and 1 case (9.1%) high malignancy grade. The surgical technique utilized was partial gastrectomy in 6 cases (54.5%) followed by segmental intestinal resection in 5 cases (45.5%). Conclusions: The annual incidence of GIST tumors operated in our Department is 1 new case / year. The localizations were in the stomach and small intestine. All low grade tumors have benefited from surgery with excellent survival rates without additional treatment. Until the results of the ongoing studies about neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib are known, it seems that operable GIST tumors should first undergo surgery and assess, in accordance with intraoperative findings, the adjuvancy and for only partially resectable o metastatic tumors, the neoadjuvancy.

Keywords : Gastrointestinal stromal tumors; Imatinib; c-kit receptor; Neoadjuvant therapy.

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