Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in a Tertiary Center in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is considered a rare disease entity, accounting for less than 3% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms, but by far considered the most common primary mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal system. It’s sporadic more than in neoplastic syndromes and can be found anywhere along the GI system but the stomach is considered the most common site. Unless the tumor is unrespectable or metastatic, surgery is the mainstay of treatment Method: Medical records of all patients diagnosed with GIST in Prince Sultan Military Medical City located in Riyadh the capital of Saudi Arabia in the time between January 2015 and December 2020 were collected, including patients' age, gender, clinical presentations, radiological investigations and features, histopathological findings and Immunohistochemically markers. Results: A 39 cases found, with 19 males and 20 females. All were Saudi with majority of patients which was 23 (59%) were diagnosed between the age of 40 and 60 years. Most common location was stomach 22 (56.4%), followed by 8 (20.5%) cases in small bowl. Using NIH criteria for GIST risk assessment for malignant behaviour, we stratified our cases into high, intermediate, low, and very low risk (28.2%, 10.2%, 33.3%, and 20.5% respectively). Conclusion: This retrospective review confirms multiple GIST features that correlate closely with other published studies. Further prospective studies needed with higher sample size and unified parameters for better understanding of GIST tumors features, management, and prognosis.