GIST (gastro-intestinal stromal tumour) of the gallbladder: a case report

The authors report a case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) of the gallbladder. GISTs are rare mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract, mesentery and omentum. GISTs are characterized by the expression of the KIT protein, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor for stem-cell factor. Only a few GISTs of the gallbladder have been described in the literature. The behaviour of these tumours is not fully understood but long-term survival is rare. Initial treatment consists of aggressive surgery. Radiotherapy and conventional chemotherapy have been mostly unsuccessful. More recently promising studies have been performed with Imatinib, an orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced disease.