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Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) are rare tumors and represent less than 1% of all cancers. However, are the most common forms of mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Until the mid-90s, there was considerable confusion about the exact histogenesis of these tumors. At immunohistochemical examination, some of them expressed a myogenic phenotype and were therefore diagnosed as leiomyomas or leiomyosarcomas; Some others expressed a neuronal phenotype and were often labeled as neurofibromas and schwannomas; Recently it was shown that these tumors have a phenotype similar to interstitial cells of Cajal, located in the myenteric plexus, responsible for the control of intestinal motility and thus the physiological peristalsis.
Until the second half of the 90s GISTs are recognized and classified as an entity distinct from other connective tissue tumors, both clinically and histopathologically.
The median age of onset is around 50-60 years. However, the distribution is large and can occur in each decade, with a slight predominance in males.
GISTs can be found throughout the gastrointestinal tract with a frequency different by the location:
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