RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the prognosis of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Records of 40 patients diagnosed as rectal GIST at the Affiliated Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and the People's Hospital of Tianjin City between June 1979 and June 2010 were reviewed. Clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 23 males and 17 females with a median age of 54.5 years old (range, 28-81 years old). During the follow-up(median 52.5 months, range 1-300 months), 18 patients developed recurrence including 7 local recurrence, 6 metastasis and 5 local recurrence complicated with metastasis. The overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 82.5%, 60.0%, and 42.5% respectively. On univariate analysis, tumor size(P<0.01), Fletcher classification(P<0.01), mitotic index(P<0.01), and post-operative distant metastasis were associated with survival. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size(P<0.05), mitotic rate (P<0.01), and postoperative distant metastasis(P<0.01) were independent prognostic factors associated with survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Surgery is the main treatment for rectal GIST. Tumor size, mitotic rate and metastasis are independent prognostic factors in patients with rectal GIST.</p>