Abstract
We report a case of liver metastasis of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) resected after administration of imatinib mesylate. A 78-year-old woman underwent proximal gastrectomy for gastric submucosal tumor in February 2001. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of a proliferation of spindle-shaped cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for c-kit and CD34. The tumor was diagnosed as a GIST. An abdominal CT scan showed a liver metastasis in December 2002. Partial hepatectomy was performed. An abdominal CT scan showed a liver metastasis in March 2005. Administration of imatinib mesylate at a dose of 400mg/day was started. An abdominal CT scan 3 months after treatment with imatinib mesylate showed no shrinkage of tumor bulk. Adverse effects of imatinib mesylate were minimal, including NCI grade 1 anorexia, stomatitis, diarrhea and facial edema. Partial hepatectomy was performed in June 2005. Histopathologically, most of the tumor was replaced by fibrotic tissue with hyalinization and some viable GIST cells remained. The patient remains alive with no recurrence.
