RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and surgical treatment of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinicopathological data of 25 cases with duodenal GIST from January 2007 to July 2011 in West China hospital were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were identified by pathological examination without specific symptoms. Tumors were located in the bulb area in 2 cases, descending portion in 11 cases, transverse portion in 8 cases, and ascending portion in 4 cases. Two cases were at very low risk, 7 at low risk, 6 at intermediate risk, and 10 at high risk. All the patients received surgical resection, including 11 pancreaticoduodenectomies, 10 local tumor resections, 2 duodenal segmental resections, and 2 distal subtotal gastrectomies. Eighteen patients were followed up from 16 to 39 months and 3 patients recurred 18, 30, and 35 months after operation respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Duodenal GIST exhibits no distinct clinical characteristics. Complete removal of the tumor is the main choice of treatment.</p>