title: Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic wedge resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach of less than 5 cm in diameter.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few long-term results of laparoscopic resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the stomach have been established to evaluate technical safety and oncologic feasibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April, 1998 and October, 2008, data of 18 patients who underwent laparoscopic resection of GISTs of <5 cm in diameter were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 10 men and 8 women with average age of 66.5 years. Estimated blood loss was minimal, and average operation time was 99.2 ± 30.5 minutes. There were no major intraoperative complications or conversions to open approach. Oral feeding started 2 to 4 days after operation, and the mean hospital stay was 10.1 ± 5.5 days. There were no major postoperative complications except for 1 patient who suffered from aspiration pneumonia. Tumor size was 3.7 ± 1.1 cm (range, 1.5 to 7.0 cm), and all patients had free surgical margins. During long-term follow-up (average 54.6 mo), no complications occurred except for liver metastasis in only 1 patient who was responding well to imatinib therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic wedge resection of GISTs of <5 cm in diameter is a safe and oncologically feasible technique offering good long-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Anwar Tawfik
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inomata
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome