[Gastrointestinal stromal tumors from the surgical point of view. Laparoscopic therapy]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most frequent soft tissue tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The demonstration of KIT expression (CD117) defined GIST as a distinct tumor entity. Despite many improvements in the medical therapy, complete tumor resection remains the standard treatment for resectable GIST and is the precondition for cure. Data concerning the role of laparoscopic surgery are sparse, but small gastric GIST (<5 cm) could be a good indication for laparoscopic procedures. In principle laparoscopic GIST resections should be performed only by interdisciplinary teams of surgeons and gastroenterologists experienced in laparoscopy, endoscopy, and oncology.