Isolated abdominal wound metastasis from a gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) frequently recur even after complete resection. The typical pattern of failure from GISTs is both local and distant with hepatic and peritoneal metastases being most common. Isolated abdominal-wall recurrence from GISTs has not been previously described.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To report an isolated abdominal-wound recurrence in the absence of widespread disease in a patient with GIST.

METHODS

Case report of a GIST and isolated abdominal-wound recurrence after laparoscopic-assisted en bloc resection.

RESULTS

Elderly male patient presented with an isolated abdominal wall incisional recurrence 18 mo after gastric resection and adjuvant imatinib mesylate therapy for a high-grade GIST.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors followed by imatinib therapy may alter the extent of recurrence.