title: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and its frequency in our clinical samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. The majority of GISTs are located in the stomach. Only 3-5% of GISTs are located in the duodenum associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding as primary manifestation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to present frequencies of GIST in patients who underwent endoscopic procedures at Gastroenterohepatology Department due to different reasons. We also investigated the most frequent localization of GIST tumors and pathohistologicall pattern of tissue samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty two patients examined at gastroenterology department were analyzed in the period from 2005 until 2012. All of the patients were endoscopically examined ( gastroscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound). A few patients were referred from surgery where GIST was diagnosed during surgical procedure. Macroscopically noticed changes were pathohistologically analyzed by immunohistochemical staining (Alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), CD34, CD117, Ki-67 antigen, cytokeratin i desmin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in gender distribution of patients with GIST-s was found. We also analyzed the appearance of GIST with respect to mean patient age and no statistically significant difference was found either. However, investigation of tumor localization related to gender of patients we found a difference in gender distribution of tumor localization. In female GIST-s are more often located in the stomach than in men, with a significance level of 0.05. Immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy samples showed that CD 117 is statistically significant more frequent in men than in woman.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking in account the small sample size in our investigation over a period of seven years, we are not able to give a definitive conclusion about GIST. Further studies and observations are necessary to give a definite conclusion.
authors: Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Bolnicka 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: Zora
authors: Z
authors: Vukobrat-Bijedic
authors: Azra
authors: A
authors: Husic-Selimovic
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Bijedic
authors: Aida
authors: A
authors: Saray
authors: Aleksandar
authors: A
authors: Djuran
authors: Bisera
authors: B
authors: Gogov
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Bjelogrlic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged