Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the posterior mediastinum.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare, but potentially aggressive tumor. We present an asymptomatic 64-year-old man with an incidental 9-cm GIST that arose in the posterior mediastinum. Wide surgical excision was performed with rotation of an intercostal muscle flap to buttress a surgically created esophageal wall defect. The patient is now free of disease 26 months postoperative. This tumor is defined by the carcinogenic over-expression of KIT-protein, a tyrosine kinase receptor. Accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor is imperative, as specific medical therapy is now available for potential control of recurrent or metastatic disease.
Lee
Jeffrey R
JR
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA. jlee@mail.mcg.edu
Anstadt
Mark P
MP
Khwaja
Shamsuddin
S
Green
Linda K
LK
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008637:Mesenchymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology