Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract and originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal. Although most of these tumors are located in the stomach, a smaller proportion develop in the small intestine, with the jejunum being a relatively uncommon site. The clinical presentation of GISTs is variable and often nonspecific, which may hinder early diagnosis. The most frequent symptoms include abdominal pain, anemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, or the presence of an abdominal mass; however, in some cases, the tumor may be detected incidentally during imaging studies performed for other reasons. We present the case of an adult patient with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor located in the jejunum who presented with progressive abdominal pain and weight loss. Imaging studies revealed a tumor lesion arising from the small intestine, and segmental surgical resection with adequate margins was performed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, with positivity for CD117 and DOG1. The postoperative course was favorable, and the patient remained under clinical follow-up without evidence of tumor recurrence. This case highlights the importance of considering GISTs in the differential diagnosis of small bowel tumors, as well as the fundamental role of histopathological and immunohistochemical studies in confirming the diagnosis. Surgical treatment remains the main therapeutic option for localized tumors, while targeted therapies have significantly improved the prognosis of patients with advanced disease.
Barba et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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