title: Microscopic margins of resection influence primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are stromal tumors that arise from the gastrointestinal tract. Both surgical resection and molecular therapy are crucial in the treatment of these tumors. This study analyzes the outcomes of 151 patients with GIST treated at 3 institutions. These institutions comprise the GISTologist Study Group and provided follow-up data.
  
  
  METHODS
  151 patients with primary GIST were admitted and treated at the St. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna, Italy, the Catholic University Hospital in Rome, Italy, and the Modena University Hospital and National Cancer Institute in Naples, Italy, over the past 11 years. Patient data as well as tumor and therapy variables were studied to identify factors predicting survival with a focus on the microscopic margins of resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 151 patients had primary disease without metastasis and underwent complete resection of gross disease. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 77%. Disease-free survival was predicted by tumor size, mitotic count, and margins of resection. Recurrence of disease after resection was predominantly intra-abdominal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumor size, mitotic count, and microscopic margins of resection predict disease-free survival in patients with primary GIST.
authors.affiliation: MaTransplant, General and Emergency Surgery Department, St Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital Bologna, Italy. faustocatena@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Battista
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ansaloni
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fusaroli
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Scioscio
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nannini
authors.forename: Maristella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saponara
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Persiani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delrio
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coccolini
authors.forename: Salomone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Saverio
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biasco
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazzareschi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate