Objective: To explore the clinical features and surgical management of esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Methods: The clinical data of patients with esophageal GISTs undergoing surgery at our hospital between January 1999 and April 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Of 14 patients, the male: female ratio was 8:6; the median age of the patients was 42 years (range 33 - 63 years). Dysphagia was the most common symptom, and all cases were diagnosed postoperatively. The tumors were resected by enucleation or esophagectomy or endoscopic submucosal resection. The median follow-up was 43.5 months, ranging from 2 to 142 months, with all patients have no recurrence and metastasis.
Conclusion: Esophageal GIST is rather rare. At present, surgical resection and postoperative diagnosis remain the mainstay for treatment of patients with esophageal GISTs in China.