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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Early Detection and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors
Published on: February 16, 2024
Gastric subepithelial tumor: long-term natural history and risk factors for progression
Bokyung Kim1, Seungkyung Kang1, Eunwoo Lee1
1Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Daehangno 101, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.
Background:
Subepithelial tumors are often detected incidentally during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. However, their natural history and clinical management have yet to be clearly established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural history and risk factors for progression of gastric SETs.
Methods:
The study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with gastric SET using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2005 and December 2017. Tumor progression was defined by a ≥ 25% increase in diameter.
Results:
Among 3237 patients, 1859 underwent serial upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for more than six months. Endoscopic ultrasonography was further performed in 733 (39.43%) patients. Resection was performed in 73 (3.93%) patients. Tumor progressed in 138 (7.42%) patients over a mean follow-up period of 59.41 months (range, 5-215 months). In progressed tumors, the mean initial size was 15.01 mm (range, 2-50 mm) and the mean size increment was 12.86 mm (range, 3-50 mm). Large initial tumor size (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), surface ulcer or erosion (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.21-5.06), lobulated shape (OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 2.00-7.06), and middle-third location (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.08-2.52) were significant risk factors for tumor progression. Large SETs had higher rates of progression and tended to grow faster than smaller tumors (r = 0.44, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The majority of gastric SETs did not increase in size during the long-term follow-up. Serial endoscopy may be sufficient as a follow-up tool for small SETs with intact overlying mucosa without lobulated shape.
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