Clinicopathological features and management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors complicated with synchronous other alimentary malignant tumor

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinicopathologic features, treatment and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) complicated with synchronous other alimentary malignant tumors. METHODS: Clinical data of 525 patients with GIST undergoing surgical treatment from August 2004 to November 2012 in Shanghai Renji Hospital were reviewed retrospectively, among whom 46 patients presented synchronous other alimentary malignancy. RESULTS: GIST and other alimentary malignancy coexisting cases were less likely to be screened out preoperatively (2.2%, 1/46) and associated with elder age (P=0.001), more likely arise from stomach (P=0.000), smaller tumor maximum diameter (P=0.000), and lower mitotic count (P=0.000). According to NIH postoperative risk classification, there were 36 at very low risk, 9 at low risk, and 1 at high risk. Although the risk of GIST recurrence was lower for GIST and other alimentary malignancy coexisting cases, their 5-year survival rate was lower than that of patients with GIST alone (36.1%VS. 82.2%, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: GIST patients complicated with synchronous alimentary malignant tumor are usually low or very low risk and has minimal impact on the prognosis. Survival depends primarily on the synchronous alimentary malignant tumors. Therefore, it is reasonable to lay emphasis on the treatment of the alimentary malignant tumor, and perform synchronous resection of GIST if possible.