title: Three cases of bone metastases in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare, but represent the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Tumor resection is the treatment of choice for localized disease. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib, sunitinib) are the standard therapy for metastatic or unresectable GISTs. GISTs usually metastasize to the liver and peritoneum. Bone metastases are uncommon. We describe three cases of bone metastases in patients with advanced GISTs: two women (82 and 54 years of age), and one man (62 years of age). Bones metastases involved the spine, pelvis and ribs in one patient, multiple vertebral bodies and pelvis in one, and the spine and iliac wings in the third case. The lesions presented a lytic pattern in all cases. Two patients presented with multiple bone metastases at the time of initial diagnosis and one patient after seven years during the follow-up period. This report describes the diagnosis and treatment of the lesions and may help clinicians to manage bones metastases in GIST patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sant'Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna University, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Scioscio
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Maria Caterina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pallotti
authors.forename: Maria Abbondanza
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleddu
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nannini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazzocchi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Battista
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lolli
authors.forename: Maristella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saponara
authors.forename: Garzillo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zompatori