Laparoendoscopic treatment of gastric stromal tumors

Gastric stromal tumors are the most common submucosal mass found in the stomach. These tumors are most often diagnosed at endoscopy and can be accurately characterized by endoscopic ultrasound. They typically require surgical resection, and an increasing number of patients undergo laparoscopic resection. A combined laparoscopic/endoscopic, intragastric enucleation technique is described, and results are reported in 10 patients. Eleven nonmalignant lesions were excised, with a mean size of 4.12 (2.0 to 7.0) cm. There were no complications, and the median length of stay was 3.5 days. This surgical approach appears appropriate for predominantly intraluminal, benign-appearing lesions of the proximal stomach.