PURPOSE Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors harbor a mutated KIT or PDGFRA receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a chaperone mediating the folding and stabilization of many oncoproteins, including KIT. An Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-AAG, can attenuate KIT activation and proliferation of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell lines. We further evaluated Hsp90 immunoexpression an...

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. More rarely neoplasms with histology and immunohistochemistry similar to GISTs may occur outside the gastrointestinal tract ( omentum, mesentery and retroperitoneum) and are so-called Extra-gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (EGISTs). EGISTs arising in the retroperitoneum are...

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare visceral sarcomas arising in the gastrointestinal tract wall. In this report we present a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumors with mesenteric and retroperitoneal invasion, describe and discuss its computed tomography findings. CASE PRESENTATION A 57-years-old male patient has been complaining of abdominal distention, weight lose, and hem...

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the duodenum are uncommon. They can reach a large size. Diagnosis can be elusive and managing them can be difficult. Our case report aims to increase awareness and highlight some issues related to the diagnosis and management of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a 38-year-old Middle Eastern woman ...

Although the majority of mesenchymal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract are neoplastic in nature, but nonneoplastic reactive processes may also involve the gastrointestinal tract and mesentery. Some more aggressive neoplasms located in same area, such as fibromatosis or gastrointestinal stromal  tumors  may  be  cause  of  diagnostic  confusion.  Reactive  nodular  fibrous  pseudo  tumor (RN...

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms without connection to the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and EGIST are similar according to their clinicopathologic and histomorphologic features. Both of them most often express immunoreactivity for CD-117, a c-kit proto-oncogene protein. The coexistence of GIST and pregnancy is very rare, ...

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are nonepithelial, mesenchymal neoplasms that rarely occur in children. CASE PRESENTATION We present a unique case of a GIST that developed outside the gastrointestinal tract within the mesoappendix of a 6-year old boy. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a slightly lobulated, homogeneous soft-tissue mass, with marked contrast enhancement. CO...