Optimal management of GIST tumors located near the gastroesophageal junction: Case report and review of the literature

Hybrid surgical approach excision of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): A case report of GIST at an unusual location and review of the literature

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common malignant subepithelial lesions involving the gastrointestinal tract. Surgical techniques have been the mainstay of treatment, however, in recent times hybrid surgeries are being introduced yielding better clinical outcomes.

Lap-Endo cooperative surgery (LECS) in gastric GIST: updates and future advances

BACKGROUND

With advancements in the field of laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques leading to improved patient outcomes, open resection has become increasingly outdated for the treatment of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). This is further superseded with the advent of laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS), an amalgamation of the two techniques to further improve results garnered while overcoming prior limitations each had individually.

METHODS

The electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed were reviewed up to August 2021, using terms relating to LECS and gastric GIST. Relevant in-article references not returned in the searches were also considered.

RESULTS

Advancements in the field of laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques has led to improved patient outcomes, making open resection a thing of the past for gastric GIST. This has become even more apparent with the advent of LECS, coupling two cutting edge techniques to further improve results garnered while overcoming prior limitations each had individually. LECS has gained much favour by reducing surgical margins due to endoscopic visualisation without being limited to smaller tumours, allowing for better anatomical and functional preservation of prior anatomy. Furthermore, hybrid approaches have improved perioperative outcomes, with reduction in procedure time, post-procedure hospital stay and lesser complications. Additionally, subtypes of LECS such as inverted LECS, closed LECS, non-exposed endoscopic wall-inversion surgery (NEWS) and laparoscopy-assisted endoscopic full-thickness resection (LAEFR) have been developed that allows the abdominal cavity to not be exposed to tumour cells and gastric contents by extracting the lesion transorally.

CONCLUSIONS

LECS and its subtypes being a combination of two advanced techniques shows a synergistic effect that is promising. However, despite all these advantages of enhanced safety and certainty, there remains areas that require further improvement.

An Unexpected GIST Causing Life-Threatening Bleeding after an Elective Hernia Repair

Background  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the alimentary tract. They are usually manifested by GI bleeding. Case Presentation  A 53-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital for elective inguinal hernia repair. The patient did not have any history of GI symptoms in the past. A day after open inguinal hernia repair, the patient developed recurrent attacks of hematemesis resulting in hemodynamic instability and admission to the intensive care unit. An upper GI endoscopy identified a small bleeding gastric lesion. After multiple failed attempts to control the bleeding endoscopically, an emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed. An unexpected large fungating bleeding gastric mass was detected. The mass measured approximately 40 × 30 cm, and multiple peritoneal deposits were also discovered. A wedge resection of the anterior gastric wall along with the mass was performed. Histopathology revealed a high-grade (G2) GIST. Discussion  GISTs appear in variable sizes and may lead to a variety of complications including abdominal pain, GI obstruction, and bleeding. This case highlights the unexpected presentation and sudden bleeding of a large GIST in a totally asymptomatic patient undergoing elective hernia surgery. It also illustrates that GIST can be asymptomatic and grow to large sizes before developing clinical manifestations. Conclusion  The case report highlights a common complication of GIST with unexpected timing, immediately after routine hernia surgery.

Laparoendoscopic assisted surgery for a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): A case report

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are infrequent, and clinical presentation varies between asymptomatic and diffuse symptoms such as abdominal pain and dyspepsia. Surgical approach depends on location and size of the tumor. There are some reports of the specific surgical approach for GIST located at the gastroesophageal junction. This is a case report of a patient with a GIST located specifically at the gastroesophageal junction and the surgical approach selected for the treatment.

PRESENTATION OF THE CASE

A 70-year-old patient who developed an episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with hemorrhagic shock accompanied by elevated troponins that required transfusion therapy and whose endoscopic evaluation showed a subcardial ulcerated lesion of 16 × 5 mm, located 2 cm below the z-line. The lesion was biopsied and was negative for malignancy. A combined surgical approach for resection by combined laparoscopy and submucosal resection by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed by the interventional gastroenterology service and surgical oncology service.

DISCUSSION

Specific management of GISTs depends on the location of the tumor, even though, complete surgical resection remains the gold standard treatment. Minimally invasive techniques can be used to assess these tumors leading to shorter hospital stays and lesser risk of complications. Laparoendoscopic cooperative surgery is a promising approach for managing lesions near the gastroesophageal junction.

CONCLUSION

GISTs located near the gastroesophageal junction require a complex approach. The laparaendoscopic approach seems to be a feasible approach for GIST in the gastroesophageal junction.

Advances of endoscopic and surgical management in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

As one of the most common mesenchymal malignancies in the digestive system, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) occur throughout the alimentary tract with diversified oncological characteristics. With the advent of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor era, the treatment regimens of patients with GISTs have been revolutionized and GISTs have become the paradigm of multidisciplinary therapy. However, surgery resection remains recognized as the potentially curative management for the radical resection and provided with favorable oncological outcomes. The existing available surgery algorithms in clinical practice primarily incorporate open procedure, and endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery together with combined operation techniques. The performance of various surgery methods often refers to the consideration of risk evaluation of recurrence and metastases; the degree of disease progression; size, location, and growth pattern of tumor; general conditions of selected patients; and indications and safety profile of various techniques. In the present review, we summarize the fundamental principle of surgery of GISTs based on risk assessment as well as tumor size, location, and degree of progress with an emphasis on the indications, strengths, and limitations of current surgery techniques.

Laparo-endoscopic transgastric resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor located near the gastro-oesophageal junction with hiatus hernia repair

A 63-year-old male presented to us with upper abdominal pain and odynophagia for 3 months. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed hiatus hernia with ulceroproliferative growth involving the gastro-oesophageal (GE) junction and cardia of the stomach with no obvious transserosal extension. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy was suggestive of a tumour of size 3 cm × 3 cm near the GE junction and sliding hiatus hernia. Although there are various ways described in the literature for managing GI stromal tumour (GIST), we opted for laparo-endoscopic transgastric resection with hiatus hernia repair due to obvious advantages in terms of safety and efficacy. Just a handful of cases have been described in the literature being treated in this fashion. The procedure was successfully performed as evidenced by an uneventful recovery of the patient. His histopathology report was suggestive of GIST of size 3.5 cm × 3.0 cm × 2.0 cm. The resected margins were free of the tumour.

"A hybrid approach for GISTs near the esophagogastric junction, a case report"

Introduction and importance

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most frequent mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Complete resection of GISTs is the only chance of cure for patients. When these tumors are located near the esophagogastric junction, the surgical risk can cause deformity or stenosis in the gastric inlet, leading to higher complications and diminishing their quality of life. In such cases, a more sophisticated and tailored approach should be used.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 42-year-old female; she presented to our office with a 3-year history of nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension. Two GISTs were located near the EGJ, and with a combined approach we achieved complete resection. On follow-ups, the patient is doing well.

Clinical Discussion, Conclusion

When diagnosis is confirmed, surgical resection must be the first choice for GISTs as complete surgical excision is the only permanent cure. The rise of endoscopic surgery has become a valuable tool and a critical element in surgery. Hybrid techniques that combine laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches can improve the patient's outcomes and provide better results.

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The rise of endoscopic surgery has become a valuable tool and a critical element in surgery.

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Early histologic diagnosis and surgical resection is the most reliable way to improve patients' quality of life.

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The surgical decision will be what define the future of the patient and, ultimately, his life.

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for a giant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding: a case report

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) include 80% of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors that originate from interstitial Cajal cells and include 0.1–3% of GI malignancies, and the stomach is the most commonly involved organ. The only potentially curative treatment is surgical resection with clear margins. Although laparoscopic resection of small GISTs is a standard treatment, there is controversy about laparoscopic surgical resection for large and giant GISTs. A 52-year-old woman, a known case of large GIST of the stomach that was under neoadjuvant imatinib therapy, was admitted to the emergency department due to acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). The patient underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy and received adjuvant imatinib after surgery. Laparoscopic resection is a safe and feasible method in large and giant GISTs with oncologic and long-term outcomes comparable to open surgery, and with better short-term outcomes.

Subepithelial rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor - the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration to establish a definitive cytological diagnosis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach is the most common location to be affected, and the rectum one of the rarest, but the whole gastrointestinal tract remains susceptible. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors account for only 0.1% of rectal tumors. Currently, endoscopic ultrasound plays an essential role in the diagnostic process of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, especially when the affected sites have a worse outcome and higher morbidity rates.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe the case of a 68-year-old white Japanese man with a history of long-term mild rectal pain and tenesmus. A digital rectal examination revealed a right palpable solid mass ranging from 3 to 7 cm from his anal verge. A colonoscopy was performed and showed a 5 cm elevated lesion covered by normal mucosa, located 4 cm above the pectineal line. Endoscopic ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of a homogeneous hypoechoic mass with areas of necrosis as a rectal subepithelial lesion originating at the fourth layer (muscularis propria). He then underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the lesion, followed by cytological and immunohistochemistry evaluation. The evaluation showed spindle and epithelioid cells of variable sizes, in fascicles separated by stroma, which reacted firmly and consistently to CD117/c-kit and CD34, and negative to desmin and S-100 protein. There was weak staining for nuclear Ki-67 in the tumor cells. A diagnosis of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor was confirmed. After a multidisciplinary meeting, an abdominoperineal resection of his rectum was performed. The pathology of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor. He is now asymptomatic after 3 months' follow-up and is on adjuvant therapy with a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare tumors, and among the variety of primary location sites, the rectum is one of the rarest. The localization of this type of tumor has worse outcomes and higher morbidity rates. We report this rare case to emphasize the need for precise diagnosis and the important role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in such situations.

Using endoscopy to minimize the extent of resection in the management of giant GISTs of the stomach

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Giant gastric GISTs are usually managed with neo-adjuvant therapy followed by a partial or total gastrectomy.

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We present a case of where intraoperative endoscopy was used to limit the extent of resection.

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Simultaneous intra-operative endoscopy demonstrated a 2 mm fistula on the lesser curvature of the stomach. A stapler was used to encompass the mass and the fistulous opening.

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A frozen-section showed clear margins and the endoscope was used to confirm luminal patency and perform an air-leak test.

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Oncologic principles of minimal tissue handling and negative margins were observed.

Introduction

Presentation of case

Discussion

Conclusion