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Malignant Appendiceal GIST: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer volume 41, pages 9–12 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Gastro-intestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the appendix are a rare entity. To date, only a handful has been described in the literature, all of which have been of the benign type.

Case Report

We present the first reported case of a malignant appendiceal GIST. The tumor was discovered when the patient presented with a peri-appendiceal abscess which appeared suspicious on CT. The abscess was drained and managed medically. The patient responded to antibiotic treatment but subsequent CT and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of appendiceal GIST, and the patient was started on treatment with imatinab mesylate.

Discussion

One week after initiation of therapy, the patient returned with frank peritonitis necessitating surgery. Abdominal exploration revealed an appendiceal GIST locally invading and perforating adjacent bowel. We describe the complex presentation and course of the case as well as a literature review of the appendiceal GISTs and the current approach to treatment.

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Affiliations

  1. New York University Hospital, New York, USA

    Avraham Schlager

  2. Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Ram Elazary, Avraham Schlager, Abed Khalaileh, Liat Appelbaum, Miklosh Bala, Mahmoud Abu-Gazala, Areej Khatib, Tzahi Neuman, Avraham I Rivkind & Gidon Almogy

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  1. Ram Elazary
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  2. Avraham Schlager
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  3. Abed Khalaileh
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  4. Liat Appelbaum
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  5. Miklosh Bala
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  6. Mahmoud Abu-Gazala
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  7. Areej Khatib
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  8. Tzahi Neuman
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  9. Avraham I Rivkind
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  10. Gidon Almogy
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Correspondence to Avraham Schlager.

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Elazary, R., Schlager, A., Khalaileh, A. et al. Malignant Appendiceal GIST: Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Gastrointest Canc 41, 9–12 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-009-9113-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-009-9113-8

Keywords

  • gastrointestinal stromal tumor
  • appendix
  • imatinib mesylate
  • c-kit