[Surgical treatment of gastric mesenchymal tumors]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. From January 1998 to December 2000 in the Department od Digestive Tract Surgery 294 patients were operated on neoplasms of the stomach. In 12 patients (4%) gastric mesenchymal tumor was diagnosed (GMT) (9 W, 3 M). Median age was 50 years (15-71). All patients with diagnosis of tumor in the abdominal cavity underwent operation. Median diameter of tumor was 6 cm (2-28). We performed following operations: total gastric resection--1, partial gastric resection--2, wedge gastric resection--9. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (25%). No hospital deaths were observed. In all cases diagnosis was established during or after operation based on histopathological examination of resected tumor. In 10 patients GIST was diagnosed and in 2--schwannoma. Follow-up has lasted for 12-48 months. At the present among 12 patients 11 (92%) are alive without recurrence of the disease. In 1 patient recurrence occurred after 18 months postoperatively which caused his death.

Gastric mesenchymal tumors are diagnosed mostly during or after operation based on histopathological examination of resected tumor. Extent of gastric resection does not influence results of treatment in benign neoplasms.