title: Colorectal gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumours. Report of a stromal case of the rectum (GIST) and a leiomyosarcoma of the transverse colon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. They are positive to C-kit (CD 117), more common in the older males, and mostly in the stomach, less in the colon and rectum and oesophagus. Benign tumours are more common than the malignant ones. Classification of GISTs is based on morphology and immunochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two cases of colorectal gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumours, one on the transverse colon which was found to be immunohistochemically leiomyosarcoma and the other on the rectum which met the GIST criteria. The patients underwent transversectomy and abdominal perineal resection, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  They did not receive Imanitib postoperatively and two years after there is no evidence of recurrence. Surgery is the treatment of choice for resectable GISTs, and other mesenchymal tumours benign or malignant.
authors.affiliation: 1st Propedeutic Surgical Clinic, Aristotle University, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michalopoulos
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Basdanis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haralabopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zatagias
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Netta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apostolidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fahantidis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011351:Proctoscopy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome