Gastrointestinal Stroma Tumor-A Case Report and Literature Review

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare, but potentially aggressive tumor. This tumor is composed with mesenchymal spindle or epithelioid cells arising in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract or omentum. Patients can present with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, non-specific abdominal pain or discomfort, palpable mass or found accidentally. With histochemical staining, definite diagnosis can be obtained from its consistent immunoreactivity for CD117. Most of the GISTs come from unopposed stimulation of cell growth which is resulted from activation of the KIT receptor secondary to mutation in the c-kit proto-oncogene. Although the prognosis was poor before in recurred or advanced stages. Targeted therapy of KIT inhibition by Imatinib will change the situations. Patients with advanced GISTs can gain clinical benefit and significant antitumour responses with Imatinib.