Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), previously thought to represent smooth muscle tumours and classified as leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas, nowadays represent a distinct and most important subset of mesenchymal benign and malignant tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. A specific feature of GISTs is considered to be the expression of the c-kit proto-oncogene protein (CD117), a cell membrane receptor with tyrosine kinase activity.
Tumour size and mitotic activity may predict biological behavior of GISTs. Endoscopy and mainly endosonography with fine needle aspiration biopsy play an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up.
Surgical resection represents the primary treatment for symptomatic GISTs or lesions suspected of malignancy. Imatinib mesylate as a selective tyrosin kinase inhibitor began the possibility for targeted therapy of GISTs, which is indicated for the management of unresectable and malignant GISTs.