Gastrointestinal stromal tumor presenting as a pelvic mass

Israel Zighelboim1, Gwendolyn Henao, Anand Kunda

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. israelz@bcm.tmc.edu

Gynecologic Oncology
|December 17, 2003
PubMed

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are c-kit-positive tumors that may arise anywhere in the tubular gastrointestinal tract. Around 5% of the cases arise elsewhere in the abdominal cavity. Tumors originating in the omentum and mesentery have been reported.A 31-year-old woman presented with pelvic pain, a palpable pelvic mass, and elevated CA-125. Imaging showed innumerable pelvic and abdominal masses. Histopathology showed a GIST that was positive for c-kit and vimentin and negative for desmin and smooth muscle actin. The patient was started on imatinib mesylate. Six months after diagnosis the tumor has remained stable.GI stromal tumors (GIST) may initially present as pelvic mass with elevated CA-125. Imatinib mesylate is the current mainstay therapy for GISTs after surgery.