Abstract

PILA PEREZ, Rafael et al. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): An infrequent observation. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2009, vol.24, n.4, pp. 403-407. ISSN 0120-9957.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Historically, these lesions were classified as leiomyomas or leiomyosarcomas, but the actual cell of origin of GISTs is a pluripotential mesenchymal stem cell programmed to differentiate into the interstitial cell of Cajal. These advances have led to the classification of GISTs as an entity separate from smooth muscle tumors. The case of 39-year-male patient with the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the small intestine is presented. The clinical manifestations, epidemiology and immunohistochemical diagnostic features are discussed. Finally, differential diagnosis and therapeutics are exposed. We stood out the importance of the surgical management and Imatinib (Glivec) in these tumors.

Keywords : Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; small intestine; therapeutics.