Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a child and review of the literature

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are c-KIT positive neoplasm that occur predominantly in adults. A 13-year-old boy who presented with massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage was subsequently diagnosed with GIST of the stomach. The tumor originated from the lesser curvature with a narrow base and no infiltration into surrounding organs. Two metastatic lesions in the liver were also found. Total excision of the gastric lesion was performed followed by adjuvant imatinib mesylate chemotherapy. He has had no signs of recurrence during 8 months of follow-up. GIST in children are rare and their behavior is notoriously difficult to predict. We report our experience and review the literature.