Aims: To analyze prognostic factors influencing survival and tumour recurrence after resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
Methods: Forty patients who underwent surgery for a GIST at our institution were reviewed. Patients were classified on the basis of tumour size, mitotic rate and CD117 positivity. The overall survival and disease free survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method considering the extent of surgery comparing local tumour excisions with segmental organ resections.
Results: Tumours were localized in the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, small bowel and large bowel and rectum. Sixty-five percent of the patients had an intermediate or high risk GIST according to tumour size and mitotic count. In 26/40 patients tumour resection was performed using segmental organ resection, in all other patients local tumour excision was carried out. The mean overall survival was 73 months. Disease free survival was significantly better after local tumour excision compared to segmental organ resection (73 months versus 53 months; p=0.05). Large tumour size (p=0.07) and high mitotic count (p=0.14) were negative prognostic factors for disease free survival, although statistical significance was not reached yet.
Conclusion: Primary surgery remains the cornerstone in the treatment of primary and recurrent GIST. Risk adapted surgery is the most important factor to avoid early tumour recurrence. In case of small tumour size segmental organ resections can be avoided favouring local tumour excisions with a low risk of tumour recurrence.