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Surgical Management of Small Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Stomach

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Abstract

Small gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) (<3 cm) occasionally are found in the stomach during endoscopy. There is no consensus about the surgical management of these small tumors, although this clinical issue is crucial because some of the tumors show unexpected malignant behavior. In this study, we evaluated the clinical management of patients with gastric GISTs who underwent surgical resection. Altogether, 31 patients with gastric GISTs were examined retrospectively. Surgical resection was fundamentally indicated for the patients with gastric GISTs suspected to be malignant by endoscopy or endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The malignant grade of the GISTs was evaluated by the mitotic rate, tumor size, and MIB-1 index. EUS was useful for differentiating benign from malignant GISTs; but by limiting the study to patients with small tumors (<3 cm), the diagnostic value of EUS was not satisfactory for defining the surgical indication. Tumors that were <50 mm were successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery. Of the 31 patients, 4 had a relapse of the disease, and 1 of those 4 patients had a small tumor (30 mm). All of the recurrences were classified in the high risk category. Surgery is indicated for gastric GISTs that are ≥20 mm or are suspected to be malignant based on EUS findings. Laparoscopic resection is feasible and is recommended as the treatment of choice for patients with tumors < 50 mm. Risk assessment can be most useful for predicting recurrence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8510, Japan

    Makoto Iwahashi MD, Katsunari Takifuji MD, Toshiyasu Ojima MD, Masaki Nakamura MD, Mikihito Nakamori MD, Yoshihiro Nakatani MD, Kentaro Ueda MD, Koichiro Ishida MD, Teiji Naka MD & Hiroki Yamaue MD

  2. Division of Surgical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, School of Medicine, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8510, Japan

    Kazuo Ono MD

Authors
  1. Makoto Iwahashi MD
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  2. Katsunari Takifuji MD
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  3. Toshiyasu Ojima MD
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  4. Masaki Nakamura MD
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  5. Mikihito Nakamori MD
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  6. Yoshihiro Nakatani MD
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  7. Kentaro Ueda MD
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  8. Koichiro Ishida MD
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  9. Teiji Naka MD
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  10. Kazuo Ono MD
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  11. Hiroki Yamaue MD
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Correspondence to Hiroki Yamaue MD.

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Iwahashi, M., Takifuji, K., Ojima, T. et al. Surgical Management of Small Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Stomach. World J. Surg. 30, 28–35 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-005-7944-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-005-7944-4

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