title: Clinical presentation, management and outcomes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study investigated the incidence, management and outcome of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) in Qatar.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of all GIST patients admitted between 1995 and 2012 was conducted. Patients' demographics, clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, radiological, pathological and immunohistochemical findings, surgical procedures, recurrence and mortality were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 GIST patients were identified. Stomach (56%) and small intestine (27%) were the most common sites of tumor. The majority of cases (n = 27) had tumor size >5 cm, 31 cases had primary and 15 cases had locally advanced tumor. Patients were stratified as high, intermediate, and low risk (43.8%, 18.8% and 37.5%, respectively). Almost all the cases were surgically managed and 94% were completely resectable. Robotic partial resection was performed in 4 cases and 5 cases underwent laparoscopic resection. Chemotherapy was initiated in half of patients. During follow up (average 37.5 months), 33 patients showed complete recovery, 7 had recurrent or metastatic disease and 2 died due to liver metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of GIST in Qatar is apparently low. Surgical resection is the preferred choice of treatment; however, robotic and laparoscopic resections are feasible and safe approaches in some cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: TraumaResearch@hmc.org.qa.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Thani
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research, Trauma Surgery Section, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar; Internal Medicine, Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Menyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, NCCCR, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Kakil Ibrahim
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Rasul
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Sulaiti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Jamela
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Mabrok
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Khairi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hajaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elgohary
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: AbdelHakem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabeb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complications; GIST; Management; Outcome; Tumor size