Left extended hepatectomy for a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor after a disease-free interval of 17 years: report of a case

Surg Today. 2007;37(1):70-3. doi: 10.1007/s00595-006-3338-y. Epub 2007 Jan 1.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), although rare, are frequently diagnosed with liver metastasis. These metastatic GISTs are poorly responsive to conventional chemotherapy; however, recent studies report improved survival after complete surgical resection of liver metastases. On the other hand, few reports describe the treatment of delayed liver metastasis after resection of a primary GIST. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman found to have liver metastasis from a GIST after a 17-year disease-free interval. The patient underwent a left extended hepatectomy for a complete resection of the metastatic GIST and is alive and well 30 months later. To our knowledge, this is the longest disease-free interval reported in the literature, and emphasizes the importance of considering late metastasis when evaluating patients with a history of GIST. Thus, surgical resection of delayed liver metastasis from a GIST should be considered as primary therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / secondary
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / surgery*
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Humans
  • Jejunal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Jejunal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Time Factors