Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Kim, Yun Ji; Kim, Sung Soo

doi:2011.11.2.82

Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res > Volume 11(2); 2011 > Article

Review

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2011;11(2):82-89.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2011.11.2.82 Published online September 10, 2011.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Yun Ji Kim, Sung Soo Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Uijeongbu, Korea. kimss@catholic.ac.kr

위장관 기질종양

김윤지, 김성수

가톨릭대학교 의정부성모병원 소화기내과

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a relatively rare disease accounted for less than 1% of gastrointestinal tumors. In the past, surgery is the only reliable therapy for the locoregional GISTs. But with the development of the specific target agents such as imatinib or sunitinib, advanced metastatic GIST can be cured now. GISTs are incidentally found by endoscopic ultrasound or laparoscopic surgery for the abdominal mass and positive immunostain for KIT with characteristic histopathology is mandatory for the diagnosis. Mutational analyses for KIT and PDGFRA is helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of GISTs. Because most GISTs are potentially malignant and surgery itself has high recurrence rate, it should be treated at an early stage and chemotherapy should be considered aggressively. The tumor size, mitotic index, and the involved organs are important prognostic factors. In this paper, the pathogenesis of histopathology, clinical diagnosis and treatment of GISTs were reviewed.

Key Words: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; c-kit; Platelet-derived growth factor alpha; Mutation