Gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in the rectovaginal septum

To describe a rare case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) outside the gastrointestinal tract and arising in the rectovaginal septum with literature review.

This study involved a 29-year-old woman, gravida 0, with a GIST presenting as an asymptomatic tumor in the rectovaginal septum. The tumor was excised locally, and the patient received imatinib as adjuvant therapy. She is free of disease 2 years after surgery.

To our knowledge, only 5 cases of GIST presenting as rectovaginal mass have been reported previously. Local excision is the definitive treatment and the use of imatinib shows promising results. Mitotic activity, cellularity, and necrosis are the main prognostic factors. Long-term follow-up is necessary.Different physicians involved in the evaluation of a mass arising in the rectovaginal septum should be alert of GIST as differential diagnosis, even in young women.