Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment, 2017, Vol. 5, No. 2, 68-72 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jcrt/5/2/5 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jcrt-5-2-5 Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Focus on Diagnosis and Management Ahmed M. Kabel 1,2,* , Ahad D. Alofi 3 , Aisha H. Almalki 3 , Asrar A. Al Qurashi 3 , Maha S. Al Ghamdi 3 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, KSA 2 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt 3 Final year student, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, KSA *Corresponding author: drakabel@gmail.com Abstract Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that usually start in very early forms of special cells found in the wall of the GI tract, called the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). Symptoms are usually variable, depending on tumor size and location, but many patients are asymptomatic. Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) occur in the stomach or small intestine. These tumors might not cause any symptoms unless they are in a certain location or grow to a certain size. Small tumors might not cause any symptoms and may be found accidentally when the physician is looking for another problem. These tumors are often benign. The main treatment for GIST that hasn’t spread is usually surgery to remove all of the tumors. The above mentioned topics, as well as classification, causes, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prognosis of GISTs were discussed in this review. Keywords: gastrointestinal, stroma, tumor, diagnosis, management Cite This Article: Ahmed M. Kabel, Ahad D. Alofi, Aisha H. Almalki, Asrar A. Al Qurashi, and Maha S. Al Ghamdi, “Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: A Focus on Diagnosis and Management.” Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment, vol. 5, no. 2 (2017): 68-72. doi: 10.12691/jcrt-5-2-5. 1. Introduction Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are not common disease, and the exact number of people diagnosed with these tumors each year is not known. Until the late 1990s, not much was known about these tumors, so many of them ended up being classified as other kinds of GI cancers [1]. Current estimates for the total number of GIST cases each year in the United States range from about 4,000 to about 5,000. These tumors can start anywhere in the GI tract, but they occur most often in the stomach (about 60%) or the small intestine (about 30%). Most of the rest are found in the esophagus, colon, and rectum. A small number develop in the abdomen outside the GI tract. Most people diagnosed with GIST are older than 50, but these tumors can occur in people at any age. They are slightly more common in men [2]. Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas of the body [3]. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors start in the digestive system. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are uncommon tumors of the GI tract. These tumors start in very early forms of special cells found in the wall of the GI tract, called the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). ICCs are cells of the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that regulates body processes such as digesting food. ICCs are sometimes called the “pacemakers” of the GI tract because they signal the muscles in the digestive system to contract to move food and liquid through the GI tract [4]. More than half of GISTs start in the stomach. Most of the others start in the small intestine, but GISTs can start anywhere along the GI tract. A small number of GISTs start outside the GI tract in nearby areas such as the omentum (an apron-like layer of fatty tissue that hangs over the organs in the abdomen) or the peritoneum (the layer of tissue that lines the organs and walls of the abdomen). Not all GISTs are cancerous. Some are benign (not cancerous) and don’t grow into other areas or spread to other parts of the body. Doctors have ways to find out whether a GIST is benign or cancerous [5]. 2. Classification of GISTs GISTs are usually classified according to the site of origin of the primary tumor [6]. GISTs that start in the stomach or the omentum are classified into four main stages under which there are subdivisions. In stage IA, the tumor is not larger than 5 cm in diameter (T1 or T2), not spread to the nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0) with low mitotic rate. In stage IB, the tumor is larger than 5 cm but not larger than 10 cm in diameter (T3), not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0) with low mitotic rate. In stage IIA, the tumor is no larger than 5 cm in diameter (T1 or T2). The tumor has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant sites (M0) with high mitotic rate. In stage IIB, the tumor is larger than 10 cm in diameter (T4), not spread to the nearby