GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMOR OF THE STOMACH

We report a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stoma ch. The patient was a 79-year-old woman with two gastric submucosal tu mors detected by ultrasonography, Proximal gastrectomy was carried out and the tumors were diagnosed as GIST by histological and immunohisto chemical investigations, Mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tr act have been traditionally regarded as largely leiomyomatous lesions. However, GIST and other tumors have been distinguished recently on th e basis of tumor cell differentiation shown by immunohistochemical stu dies. We discuss the concept and the immunohistochemical characteristi cs of GIST.