Background: Gastrointestinal stromal sarcomas are a rare group of malignancies originating in the bowel wall.
Methods: The treatment of 12 patients with gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma who underwent operation between 1994 and 1998 was reviewed.
Results: Eight tumours originated in the stomach; others were in the small bowel or rectum. Five of the tumours were of myogenic origin, two were gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumours, one was a mixed neural-myoid tumour, and four could not be differentiated. Complete resection was possible in ten patients; in two of the ten en bloc resection of adjacent organs was required to ensure adequate margins. The tumours in the remaining two patients were irresectable because of diffuse intra-abdominal metastatic disease. All patients who underwent complete resection were alive after 4-48 (median 14) months. Two of the ten patients developed recurrence, which was reresected completely. The patients with metastatic disease died less than 1 year after operation.
Conclusion: Aggressive surgical resection, achieving complete resection, can lead to prolongation of life and may be a potential cure for patients with gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma.