Background: GISTs are the most common mesenchimal tumors and represent approximately 1% of all of the gastrointestinal tract cancers. The treatment for localized GISTs is the surgical excision with macroscopically negative margins. However, recurrence is a relatively common event even after a complete resection. Almost 30% of recurrences are locally and distant metastases represent the 50% of total recurrences. Materials and methods: From July 2002 to March 2009 a total of nineteen patients (12 males, 7 females), median age 65 years (49-79), underwent curative resection (R0). Tumor site: stomach 12; small intestine 5; colon rectum 2. Surgical treatments: segmental resection of small intestine (5); gastric wedge resection (9), subtotal gastrectomy (2); gastric resection extended to distal splenopancreasectomy (1); right colectomy (1); anterior resection (1). Results: Gastric GISTs were high grade in 4 patients, intermediate in 1 patient and low-risk in 7 patients. Small intestine GISTs were high grade in 2, intermediate in 2 and low in 1 patient, respectively. Colorectal GISTs were high in 1 and intermediate in 1 patient, respectively. Lymphonodal metastases were found in one patient with high risk stomach GIST. After a median follow up of 40 months, 15 patients are alive and free disease; 4 male patient (1 high risk stomach, 1 intermediate and I low risk small intestine, 1 high risk rectum) have a recurrence, two local (pelvis) and 2 distant (liver), respectively. The rate of relapse is 8% in stomach, 40% in small intestine and 50% in rectum. Discussion: Several studies have shown that different anatomical locations of GISTs have different clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and genetic characteristics, suggesting that the anatomical location could be a prognostic factor independent of tumor size and mitotic rate. Our experience confirms data from the literature.
