Gastrointestinal stromal tumours; report of three cases

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, arising from the interstitial cells of Cajal. They have variable malignant potential, ranging from small lesions with a benign behaviour to fatal sarcomas. In this paper, the authors report three cases of GISTs involving respec tively the stomach, the duodenum and the jejunum. Our series included two women and one man aged between 42 and 74 years. The presenting symptoms included abdominal pain (n=2), gastrointestinal bleeding (n=1), abdomi nal mass (n=1), weight loss (n=1) and anemia (n=1). The three patients underwent surgical treatment. Histological examination of the surgical specimen coupled with immunohistochemical study confirmed the diagnosis of GIST in all cases. Detailed immunohistochemical studies are useful in successfully identifying any case of GIST, which is crucial to clinical treatment. New insights into the origin and progression of GISTs are setting the stage for further therapeutic innovations, with the goal not just to control disease growth, but to eliminate all tumour cells at the time of initial therapy.