ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze epidemiology and outcome of 40 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor [GIST] expressed CD117. All epidemiological data [age, sex, location] and survival data were analyzed retrospectively. The tumors occurred in 17 men and 23 women. Stomach was the most common site of localization [47.5%]. Of the 37 patients without Gleevec treatment, 18 benign cases [66.6%] showed long-term survival [2 to 8 years] and 9 malignant cases [33.3%] were diagnosed. 10 cases were still being in followed [< 2 years]. Gastric tumor's survival was better than extragastric tumor's survival without statistically significance [p>0.05]. Our experience confirms that GIST is an aggressive tumor. 33.33% of them are malignant with recurrence or metastatic potential. Additionally, epidemiologic factors [age, sex and location] do not have a predictive value