[Uncommon tumor of the gastric wall]

We report on a 72-year-old male patient suffering from weight loss, diarrhea, and epigastric pain. By means of endosonographic ultrasound, a well-circumscribed tumor mass was found in the gastric wall, suggesting a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Biopsies were taken and processed for standard histopathological analysis. The microscopy revealed uniform, small, round cells with central nuclei and prominent cell borders embedded in vascularized stroma. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the expression of actin, but showed negativity for cytokeratin, CD34, CD117, DOG‑1, desmin, and CD45. The tumor was diagnosed as a gastral glomus tumor. The diagnosis was confirmed in the wedge resection specimen. Gastral glomus tumors are rare intramural tumors of the stomach. GIST and neuroendocrine tumor (NET) present the main differential diagnoses. Especially with regard to the epithelioid variant of GIST, clear separation can be difficult. Besides standard histological examination, immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis can be helpful since gastral glomus tumors do not obtain c‑Kit- or PDGFRα mutations. Based on the fact that this tumor most commonly shows a benign biological behavior, the prognosis of gastral glomus tumors is favorable.