Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor of Rectum: A Reoport of 7 Cases

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare. The aim of this study is to investigate and describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of rectal GISTs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of seven patients who underwent surgery for GIST of the rectum from 1998 to 2003. RESULTS: Male and female patients were two and five respectively. The mean age was 55 years (range, 41~72 years) at the time of diagnosis. The median follow-up period was 23 months (range, 7~75 months). The chief complaints were hematochezia, constipation and anal pain. Curative resections were done in all cases. Abdominoperineal resection was done in five cases and transanal excision was done in one case. In one case, Hartmann's operation with prostatectomy was done. The mean size of tumor was 6.6 cm (1~12 cm). The pathologic feature of all cases were spindle cell type. The mitotic count shown > or =5 in 50 high power field was identified in four cases and that shown < or =5 in 50 high power field in three cases. Adjuvant radiation therapy was done in four cases. Two local recurrences occurred on 54 month and 23 month later after surgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: In cases of GIST of the rectum, the common symptom was same as other rectal tumors. Immuonhistiochemical staning of c-kit is helpful for differential diagnosis. Curative surgical resection should be done for treatment.