Mesenteric gastrointestinal stromal tumour presenting as intracranial space occupying lesion

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) usually present with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal mass, pain, anorexia and bowel obstruction. METHODS We report a case of a 42 year old male who presented with a solitary intracranial space occupying lesion which was established as a metastasis from a mesenteric tumour. RESULTS The patient was initially treated as a metastatic sarcoma, but a lack of response to chemotherapy prompted testing for CD117 which returned positive. A diagnosis of mesenteric GIST presenting as solitary brain metastasis was made, and the patient was treated with imatinib. CONCLUSION We recommend that all sarcomas with either an intraabdominal or unknown origin be routinely tested for CD117 to rule out GIST.