Laparoscopic management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Background: Surgery remains the standard for non-metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Laparoscopic surgery should be considered for these tumors as their biologic behavior lends them to curative resection without requiring large margins or extensive lymphadenectomies. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent laparoscopic treatment of GISTs by surgeons at the Mount Sinai Medical Center from 2000-2005. Records were reviewed with respect to patient demographics, medical history, diagnostic workup, operative details, postoperative course, and pathologic characteristics. Results: Laparoscopic surgery was attempted in 43 patients with GISTs. The average age was 65 years and 21 were women. Fifty-six percent of patients presented with anemia or gastrointestinal bleeding. The tumors were located in the stomach (65%) and in the small bowel (35%). The mean tumor sizes were 4.6 cm.(stomach) and 3.7 cm (small bowel). Gastric operations included laparoscopic wedge (29%), sleeve (21%), and partial (29%) gastrectomies. The three gastric conversions were due to local invasion of tumor into adjacent organs or proximity to the gastroesophageal junction. Small bowel operations included laparoscopic resections with extracorporeal (47%) and intracorporeal anastamoses (33%). Conversion in small bowel operations was associated with coincidental pathology in addition to the GIST. This consisted of an associated bowel perforation and a synchronous colonic carcinoma. There was one mortality and a 9% morbidity rate, including an evisceration requiring reoperation. All tumors were pathologically confirmed with CD 117 immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: In light of their biologic behavior, GISTs should be considered for laparoscopic resection. This minimally invasive approach to these tumors can be performed safely and reliably.