GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS: ABOUT 4 CASES AT THE ANGRE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (CÖTE D’IVOIRE)

Background Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare, sporadic connective tissue tumors. Very few cases have been reported in Africa, including Ivory Coast. Aim To report 4 cases of GIST at the Angré University Hospital in Ivory Coast. Patients and method It was a retrospective case series from April 2, 2020, to May 31, 2023, at the Hepato-gastroenterology Unit of the Angré University Hospital. GIST cases followed in consultation or hospitalization, confirmed by pathological examination and immunohistochemistry, were included. Data collection was based on consultation and hospitalization files, entered and processed anonymously. The variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic data. Results We reported four cases of GIST. The patients had an average age of 61.7 years with a sex ratio of 1. The circumstances of discovery were a digestive hemorrhage, an epigastric mass, epigastric pain, and anorexia. The most common area was the stomach (3), and there was 1 case of mesentery GIST. Immunohistochemistry found three moderate to intense cytoplasmic and membrane markings by the anti-CD117 antibody, four markings for the anti-DOG1 antibody, three markings by the anti-CD34 antibody, and two membrane markings of the endothelial cell by the antibody anti-CD31. Treatment was surgical in 2 patients, followed by adjuvant treatment with Imatinib. The other two patients were treated with Imatinib alone for one and as neoadjuvant for the other, which will be followed by surgery if the tumor size regressed. Conclusion Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare pathologies with non-specific symptoms. For optimal management, the diagnosis must be confirmed by immunohistochemistry.