title: Predicting malignant potential of gastrointestinal stromal tumors using endoscopic ultrasound.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine which EUS characteristics correlate with malignant potential of GISTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with a diagnosis of GIST based on surgical resection and preoperative EUS at our institution from January 2000 to July 2006 were identified. Pathology reports were used to determine NIH classification of each GIST and EUS exams were reviewed. EUS features were compared to NIH classification of very low/low risk malignant potential or intermediate/high risk malignant potential.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients had lesions of very low or low risk malignant potential, and 12 patients had lesions of intermediate or high-risk malignant potential. EUS features of tumor size (P = 0.002), irregular extraluminal border (P = 0.005), local invasion (P = 0.02), and heterogeneity (P = 0.02) were statistically significant correlates of intermediate or high risk malignant potential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EUS characteristics of tumor size, extraluminal border, depth, and heterogeneity can be used to predict malignant potential of GISTs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Pari
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Edmundowicz
authors.forename: Riad R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Azar
authors.forename: Dayna S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Early