Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is defined as mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal
tract expressing proto-oncogene protein CD117. They are the most common sarcomatous
tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs are presumed to arise from interstitial
cells of Cajal or gastrointestinal pacemaker cells which control gut motility. They
have unpredictable biological behavior. Prognosis is dependent on tumor size as well
as mitotic count. Radical surgical excision is the treatment of choice. They rarely
metastasize to lymph nodes. Imatinib therapy is used as an adjuvant therapy. The follow-up
of patients postsurgery is not standardized.
Keywords
gastrointestinal tumor - gastrointestinal stromal tumors - jejunal tumor - CD117 -
CD34 - PDGFRA - imatinib