A Rare Case of Vaginal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) Initially Perceived as a Polypoid Lesion

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors or GISTs are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract; only a few cases have been reported at other sites. The prognosis of GISTs depends on their size and mitotic rate. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice although imatinib shows clinical benefits. We present a rare case of a GIST in a 64-year-old female patient treated for vaginal bleeding. During diagnostic hysteroscopy, an intra-uterus polyp and a large vaginal mass were identified and multiple biopsies were obtained. Initially, the histological examination of the first lesion suggested that it was an intra-uterus, benign adenomatous polyp but later the second lesion indicated a malignant vaginal neoplasm. The patient was operated on and the postoperative course was uneventful. The histological analysis of the specimen finally revealed a GIST. Vaginal GISTs are extremely rare tumors and in most cases, diagnosis is achieved only histologically in the removed specimen. Additional treatment options and prognosis are similar to those of gastric GISTs.