Prolonged Fever as an Unusual Presentation of a Mid-Ileal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): A Rare Case Report

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors that can develop throughout the gastrointestinal tract, with the majority occurring in the stomach and small intestine. While common presentations include abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding, atypical cases can pose diagnostic challenges. We present a unique case of a 45-year-old man who exhibited prolonged fever as the sole presenting symptom, ultimately diagnosed as a mid-ileal GIST with central ischemic degeneration. Diagnostic workup revealed an 8 cm × 8 cm cavitary lesion on contrast-enhanced CT imaging, confirmed histologically as a spindle cell GIST with low mitotic activity. Surgical resection with end-to-end bowel anastomosis resulted in favourable outcomes. This case highlights the importance of systematic evaluation in pyrexia of unknown origin and emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to managing atypical GIST presentations.