Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of small gastrointestinal stromal tumors (2025 edition)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, with malignant potential ranging from very low risk to high risk. Small GISTs, defined as those with measuring <2 cm in greatest dimension, generally exhibit benign or indolent behavior, although a few exhibit aggressive features. The evidence of epidemiology, biologic behavior, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of small GISTs is limited, and the treatment status in clinical practice has no uniform standards. Thus the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Expert Committee on Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor systemically reviewed the latest evidence using the Delphi method and provided recommendations for diagnosing and treating small GISTs.