Although rare, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. We present our experience with the treatment of 8 patients affected by gastrointestinal stromal tumours of the ileum and colon. These cases were characterised by acute bleeding, intestinal obstruction or diffuse abdominal pain, and all of them underwent an emergency surgical treatment. We performed six partial resections of the ileum, one right hemicolectomy and one left hemicolectomy. Three patients died after surgical procedures for disease relapse, one died 10 years later due to other complications, and the others are still alive.