An adolescent with anorexia nervosa and gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

The literature often describes medical complications that are a result of the malnutrition and weight loss that define anorexia nervosa. The comorbidity of anorexia nervosa with other independent medical disorders associated with weight loss is unusual. Case reports have described anorexia nervosa coincident with, for example, lymphocytic leukemia (1), chronic pancreatitis (2), celiac disease (3), and cerebral meningioma (4). In the present report we describe the case of a young man who met diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. This case presentation emphasizes the importance of making a diagnosis based on positive criteria. Distinguishing features of the two disorders are highlighted in the process of differential diagnosis. Treatment decisions and relapse issues are presented for both conditions. The patient is given the name Alex in this report to protect his identity.