Background: Gastrointestinal stromal sarcomas are a rare group of malignanc
ies originating in the bowel wall.
Methods: The treatment of 12 patients with gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma
who underwent operation between 1994 and 1998 was reviewed.
Results: Eight tumours originated in the stomach; others were in the small
bowel or rectum. Five of the tumours were of myogenic origin, two were gast
rointestinal autonomic nerve tumours, one was a mixed neural-myoid tumour,
and four could not be differentiated. Complete resection was possible in te
n patients; in two of the ten en bloc resection of adjacent organs was requ
ired to ensure adequate margins. The tumours in the remaining two patients
were irresectable because of diffuse intra-abdominal metastatic disease. Al
l patients who underwent complete resection were alive after 4-48 (median 1
4) months. Two of the ten patients developed recurrence, which was reresect
ed completely. The patients with metastatic disease died less than 1 year a
fter operation.
Conclusion: Aggressive surgical resection, achieving complete resection, ca
n lead to prolongation of life and may be a potential cure for patients wit
h gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma.