title: [Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor--clinical and pathological presentation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare mesenchymal tumor identified by a positive immunostaining (KIT tyrosine kinase). Surgical resection is the primary treatment, but non-resectable and recurrent disease may be treated by specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This study evaluates the clinical and pathological presentation of a Danish GIST population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of patients diagnosed, treated and/or followed under the GIST diagnosis at the Department of Surgery, Odense University Hospital, during the period from January 1995 to September 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  41 patients with GIST were identified (25 males, 16 females, median age 62 years). The predominant symptoms leading to the diagnosis were upper gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain. The majority of tumors were located in the stomach (63%) or in the small intestine (22%). 95% of the patients had a complete surgical resection, whereas resection was impossible in 2 patients. Approximately (2)/3 of the patients had a low or medium risk of developing metastases according to tumor size and number of mitoses. 1 in 4 patients was treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor during the course of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GIST is a rare mesenchymal tumor but due to immunostaining methods the detection rate is increasing. The clinical and pathological presentation of this Danish GIST population is comparable to international data.
authors: Odense Universitetshospital, Øvre GI-sektion, Kirurgisk Afdeling A. m.bau@dadlnet.dk
authors: Michael Bau
authors: MB
authors: Mortensen
authors: Knud Erik
authors: KE
authors: Larsen
authors: Claus Wilki
authors: CW
authors: Fristrup
authors: Henning Overgaard
authors: HO
authors: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents