Jejunal Gastrointestinal Stromal tumor (GIST) (86 of 86)

The small bowel tumour that was revealed by enteroscopy was successfully resected laparoscopically. Long-term follow up is essential for all patients with GISTs independent of a benign or malignant designation since these tumors have an uncertain biologic behavior. While an active postoperative surveillance program is important, there is no consensus on a standard protocol for following patients. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a rare but distinct histopathologic group of intestinal neoplasms of mesenchymal origin. Historically, most of these tumors were classified as leiomyomas, leiomyoblastomas, and leiomyosarcomas due to the mistaken belief that they were of smooth muscle origin. However, with the advent of electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry, a pleuropotential intestinal pacemaker cell, the interstitial cell of Cajal, was identified as the origin of GISTs. These cells have myogenic and neurogenic architecture and are found within the myenteric plexus, submucosa, and muscularis propria of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The recent discovery and identification of the CD117 antigen, a c-kit proto-oncogene product, and CD34, a human progenitor cell antigen, in the majority of GIST have led to further delineation of the cellular characteristics of these neoplasms.