Mesenchymal Tumors in Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

Mesenchymal neoplasms arising in the digestive tract are rare compared to adenomas and carcinomas [1]. They include several entities with histomorphological similarity and immunohistochemistry helps to confirm the diagnosis [2]. Our goals are to study the epidemiological aspect of mesenchymal tumors, and to compare the histological diagnoses before and after the use of immunochemistry. This is a retrospective, descriptive, single-center study performed on all cases of mesenchymal tumors in gastrointestinal tract, diagnosed at the laboratory of Pathological Anatomy Unit of Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018. We included 29 cases. The mean age was 43.28 years. The sex ratio was 1.07. After immunohistochemical examination, 24.14% of tumors changed diagnosis to GISTs which are the most common mesenchymal tumor involving the gastrointestinal tract. In all cases of mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract GIST should first be ruled out before making other diagnoses. Histologic and immunophenotypic features are thereby essential. According to the literature review, if c-Kit and DOG-1 are negative, molecular biology must be used.