Objective: To explore the clinicopathological characteristics of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and elucidate their associated prognostic factors.
Methods: The clinicopathological data were collected for 27 patients with rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors at our hospital from January 2000 to December 2011. Univariate analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic factors.
Results: Changed habit of discharge and hematochezia were the most common symptoms. Most GISTs were localized in lower rectum. The 1, 3 and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 85.19%, 65.04% and 52.04% respectively. Overall survival (OS) and PFS rates were significantly correlated with incisional margin and invasion of surrounding organs. There was no significant difference in PFS and OS between different resection procedures.Due to the limitation of cases multivariate survival analysis can not be performed.
Conclusion: Incisional margin and invasion of surrounding organs are two important prognostic factors. And transanal excision is both safe and effective for those properly indicated patients.