Treatment of a localized exogastric gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) with long-term follow up: A case report and review of literature

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a rare entity. The diagnosis, treatment and follow-up pose a challenge in our environment. We describe the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up of a patient with a localized, large exogastric GIST. Method: The case notes of a 51-year-old woman who presented with a one-year history of upper abdominal swelling with no associated symptom was reviewed. Result: On examination, an oval intraperitoneal mass at the epigastrium measuring 16 x 14cm which was freely mobile, smooth, firm, non-tender with dull percussion notes was found. She subsequently had resection of a large exogastric mass with a histologic diagnosis of GIST. Following tumour resection with a wide margin of gastric wall, she has done well so far for ten (10) years. Conclusion: Wide margin gastric resection may suffice in the treatment of a large localized gastric GIST when it is exogastric.