GIST- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

A tumor begins when normal cells change and grow uncontrollably. It can be noncancerous or cancerous. If it’s cancerous it means that it can spread to other parts of the body.

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a type of tumor that occurs in the gastrointestinal (GI or digestive) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, liver, small intestine, colon, rectum, and lining of the gut. Originally, GISTs were thought to be either muscle or nerve tumors, but recent research shows that GIST start in cells found in the walls of the GI tract, called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). These cells send signals to the GI tract to help move food and liquid through the system.

GIST is a rare cancer which affects the entire digestive tract and nearby organs within the abdomen. GIST accounts for about 1% of the GI tract. GIST is a soft tissue sarcoma. Sarcomas are cancers that grow from cells of the body’s connective or supportive tissues such as bone, cartilage, tendons, nerves, fat, muscle, synovial tissue or blood vessels. There are no known environmental or behavioral risk factors contributing to GIST. Therefore, patients should not worry that their diet or lifestyle choices contributed to GIST. Random genetic mutations are the apparent cause of GISTs. 

GIST tumors often grow quite large before they are discovered and primary tumors often produce few symptoms. Metastatic tumors can be quite numerous. GISTs are often discovered during emergency surgery for unexpected perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and consequent bleeding. When GIST tumors are first discovered, the most common symptoms are:

·        Vague abdominal discomfort or pain.

·        Presence of a palpable abdominal mass.

·        Feeling of abdominal fullness.

·        Secondary symptoms resulting from tumor bleeding and associated anemia.