Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) for rectal GI stromal tumour

TEM/TEO achieved a high rate of R0 resection with organ preservation in this small single-centre series of rectal GIST. Tumour size alone should not be considered an absolute contraindication when en-bloc excision without rupture and negative margins are technically achievable. Neoadjuvant imatinib may facilitate local excision in selected borderline cases, but our experience is limited and larger multicentre registries are required to better define selection criteria and long-term outcomes.