Stomach (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor)GIST in a Patient of Situs Inversus Totalis: A Rare Association and Brief Case Report

Abstract

Situs inversus is a rare congenital condition in which the major visceral organs are reversed from their normal positions. Usually, it involves complete transposition (right to left reversal) of all of the abdominal organs and only a small percentage is associated with GIST which is the rare mesenchymal tumors of the alimentary tract. Nowadays GISTs represents 0.1% to 3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies, making it a diagnostic challenge. Lesions are frequently located in stomach and proximal small intestine but rarely elsewhere in the abdomen. They are believed to result from mutations of proto-oncogenes c-Kit or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha polypeptide, this increase tyrosine kinase receptor activity, leading to uncontrolled proliferation of stem cells that differentiate into cells of Cajal. They can occur at any age but predominantly in middle-aged people and in elderly. We report a very rare case of stomach GIST in Situs inversus totalis. A 56-yearold male presented to our hospital complaining of pain in the epigastrium with melena, findings suggested a gastric GIST. Cytologic and immunohistochemistry analysis confirm diagnosis of GISTs. The reverse location of the internal organs caused no significant difficulties for surgical treatment.