Gastrointestinal stromal tumor experience in a surgical oncological unit in sub-Saharan Africa: A retrospective analysis

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by specific immunohistochemical and genetic features. This study investigated the clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes of 54 patients with GIST in a major referral hospital in sub-Sahara Africa. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional single-center study describes 54 patients who underwent surgery for GIST between 1999 and 2019 in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital. All cases were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and were analyzed for clinical characteristics, clinical management, and histopathologic data. The risk of recurrence was determined using the Fletcher National Institutes of Health criteria. Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.6 years ± 15.3 (11–81 years), and most patients (67%) underwent abdominal computed tomography scans preoperatively. The most common presentation was an abdominal mass (48%). The stomach was the most common site of GIST (37%). The mean tumor size was 8.9 cm (5–18 cm), and tumor morphology showed spindle cell type (75.9%), mixed spindled-epithelioid (20.3%), and epithelioid (3.7%) cell types. Overall, 51% had a high risk for recurrence. Conclusion: The clinicopathologic features of GIST in this study are consistent with reports in the literature. Slight variations in risk profile may be due to late presentation in our settings.