Clinical Features and Risk Factors of Gastric Subepithelial Tumor Needed Surgery in Clinical Practice: A Single-center Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric subepithelial tumor (SET) is often noted incidentally during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The prevalence of SET is increasing in accordance with the increase of EGD and endosonographies. SET can range from benign lesions to tumors with malignant behavior or potential such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and carcinoid tumor. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features and risk factors of gastric SET that needed surgery in a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 90 patients who underwent operations due to SET during the period from January 2006 to December 2010. RESULTS: Of the 90 patients, those who were diagnosed with GIST, ectopic pancreas, leiomyoma, schwannoma, carcinoid tumor, and inflammatory fibroid polyp after surgery were 43 (47.8%), 14 (15.6%), 13 (14.4%), 8 (8.9%), 3 (3.3%), and 2 (2.2%), respectively. Most patients who received operation due to SET were asymptomatic (52.2%). Patients were divided into non-GIST and GIST groups, non-malignant and malignant groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics between both groups were significantly different in age, and size (P<0.05). Age was an independent risk factor of malignant gastric SET (OR, 1.045; 95% CI, 1.008~1.084; P=0.016). In addition, age and size were independent risk factors of gastric SET with potential of GIST (OR, 1.049; 95% CI, 1.011~1.089; P=0.011, OR, 1.026; 95% CI, 1.002~1.050; P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that an independent risk factor of malignant gastric SET that needed surgery was age, and independent risk factors of GIST were age and size of the tumor.