title: A report of three cases of exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor detected by transabdominal ultrasound.
abstract: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common submucosal tumors of the stomach. GISTs are often detected by esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy (EGD). However, the exophytic GIST type is relatively rare and difficult to detect by EGD. Most exophytic GISTs found are large and symptomatic. We present three cases with exophytic GISTs less than 5 cm in diameter detected by transabdominal ultrasound (TUS). All patients were asymptomatic and TUS revealed hypoechoic solid masses 2-3 cm in diameter between the stomach and left lobe of the liver. In contrast, no tumor in the stomach was detected by esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy. Endoscopic ultrasound and enhanced CT showed gastric tumors protruding outward. All three cases underwent partial gastrectomy, and the excised tumor was diagnosed as low-grade GIST. In conclusion, TUS can be a starting point for diagnosing exophytic GISTs of the stomach.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8504, Japan. sugitaka@med.tottori-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Matsue Municipal Hospital, 32-1 Noshirachyo, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Matsue Municipal Hospital, 32-1 Noshirachyo, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 36-1 Nishimachi, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murawaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011859:Radiography; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Exophytic type; Gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Transabdominal ultrasound