A case of extragastrointestinal stromal tumor of the retroperitoneum

Abstract

A 55–year–old woman visited the department of gynecology in our hospital because of abrupt onset of atypical genital bleeding in July 2005. He was referred to our department for the purpose of operation for a huge tumor in the pelvis which was found on abdominal MRI scan. The tumor was sharply demarcated from the surrounding tissues on MRI, and thus a possibility of uterine– or rectum–origin tumor could almost be ruled out. Both high and low intensity areas were seen in the tumor, which were suggestive of and hemorrhagic necrotic foci, respectively. From these findings, intrapelvic tumor with bleeding was diagnosed and the tumor was removed. At surgery the tumor which had been fixed to the retroperitoneum at the sacrum was a 15.0×13.5×7.7cm elastic–hard to –soft mass and was sharply demarcated from the surrounding tissues. On immunostaining the resected was KIT positive. The definite diagnosis of extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST) was made. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 10th postoperative day.
Little cases of EGIST have been reported so far. Further accumulation of clinical cases as well as animated discussion about the etiology, treatments and prognosis would be required.