A case of huge gastrointestinal stromal tumor resected after chemotherapy with imatinib

Abstract

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of vomiting of blood.
Enhanced abdominal CT disclosed a huge tumor at the left upper abdomen and left pleural effusion. Biopsy was performed and the histopathological diagnosis was gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Because of huge size and invasion, resection was thought to be difficult. Administration of imatinib 400mg/day was started since January 2006. Pleural effusion disappeared by the end of two months, and the tumor reduced its size about 30% in 7 months after start of the treatment. Over 100weeks, the effect of imatinib was observed. However, under consideration of development of late resistance to imatinib, resection was thought to be optimum if possible. So surgery was done in January 2008, and the resected specimen was 1360g, including the spleen and portion of the stomach. The patient was discharged from the hospital 3 weeks after the operation. As adjuvant chemotherapy, imatinib 400mg/day has been administered after surgery.