Tumor Size is Associated with Long-Term Outcomes after Resection of Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Abstract

The clinical outcomes after surgical resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) vary widely due to the differences in tumor size and mitotic index. To analyze the long-term outcomes and prognosis of surgically resected gastric GISTs according to tumor size. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 269 patients who underwent surgery for GISTs at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital from March 2000 to March 2017. We surveyed tumor size, mitotic index, recurrence after surgery, time to recurrence, treatment for recurrence, and mortality. The risk of recurrence of gastric GISTs was classified as very low, low, intermediate, and high risk according to the 2007 Journal of the national comprehensive cancer network (JNCCN). After excluding 69 patients who had simultaneous gastric adenocarcinoma, the outcomes of 200 patients were analyzed. Recurrence was observed in 7 patients: 1 in the very low risk group (1-2 cm), 2 in the very low risk group (less than 5 cm), and 3 in the high risk group. Death due to gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 1 patient in the high risk group who had a tumor >10 cm. While the recurrence rates after surgical resection of GIST are very low, careful monitoring and regular follow-up are warranted, even for low risk patients.