[Gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor (GANT)--a rate tumor of the ileum].

The gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor (GANT) is an uncommon stromal tumor of the intestinal tract and retroperitoneum first described by Herrera and associates in 1984. GAN tumors, also termed "plexosarcomas", arise from autonomic nervous system plexuses of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of GAN tumor of the intestinal tract in a 63-year-old woman. The diagnosis is based on light microscopy and immunohistochemical analyses. The tumor stained positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein and was negative for muscle markers. Pain and chronic and acute bleeding are the most frequent but not specific symptoms, and the diagnostic delay is reflected by a large diameter of these tumors. GAN tumors are fatal and must be considered malignant. They need radical surgical resection.