Gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the colon presenting with intestinal obstruction.

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours are the commonest mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach and small intestine being the favored sites. They rarely occur in the colon and rectum and esophagus. The diagnosis is difficult, especially in the rarer sites, since there are no pathognomic features to suggest GIST on preoperative clinical examination and investigations, and only a detailed histopathological analysis of the specimen reveals their true nature. The case of a young female patient who presented with intestinal obstruction due a GIST of the transverse colon is reported. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.