Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST): an Overview

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare mesenchymal tumors of the alimentary tract with varied clinical presentation ranging from small asymptomatic tumors detected incidentally to large palpable abdominal masses which may present with gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, or obstruction. CT abdomen is the imaging modality of choice. Treatment depends upon the size, location and risk stratification. Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice for resectable tumours. The discovery of c-kit mutations and tyrosine-kinase inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of locally advanced, metastatic and recurrent tumors.