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Gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) - the Pretoria experience and a literature review
R J Hartley1, J H R Becker, H Van der Walt
1University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Aim:
To analyse the presentation and management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) at Pretoria hospitals.
Design:
A retrospective study was done in which all available clinical records of primary c-KIT positive GISTs were analysed.
Setting:
Secondary and tertiary care institutions in Pretoria, including both private and public hospitals. Subjects. The population studied included all individuals treated at Pretoria hospitals from 17 July 2000 to 1 April 2009 who had a GIST confirmed with immunohistochemical c KIT staining. Patients with incomplete or inaccessible clinical records were excluded. Outcome measures. Patient demographics including gender, age and race; presenting symptoms and signs; results of special investigations; and treatment.
Results:
Fifty-four cases were identified for inclusion in the study. The age of the subjects ranged from 15 to 83 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The organ most commonly affected was the stomach, and abdominal pain and weight loss were the most common presenting symptoms. Seventy-six per cent of the patients were treated surgically, and 24% received Imatinib.
Conclusion:
GISTs often present late with non-specific symptoms, and are frequently discovered incidentally. Large tumours tend to be malignant.
