Case report : duodenal stromal tumor

Tumors of the small intestine are rare lesions, but they should be kept in mind as possible causes of gastrointestinal symptoms. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. A 78 year-old woman complaining of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting after meal and weight loss for three months was admitted to our clinic. On physical examination, there was only epigastric tenderness. No mass was palpated. She was anemic and total protein and albumin levels were low. Other laboratory tests were normal. A 9.0 ?? 7.5 cm heterogeneous mass was detected on the abdominal computerized tomography scan. Endoscopy con- firmed a polypoid and vegetative mass in the second part of the duodenum. Histopathological diagnosis of endoscopic biopsy was gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. On the 11th postoperative day, relaparotomy was per- formed due to biliary leakage from the subhepatic drain. Biliary leakage was from the choledochojejunostomy. Choledocho- jejunostomy and pancreaticojejunostomy were revised. She was discharged on the postoperative 25th day. Histopathological exami- nation of the resection specimen revealed duodenal stromal tumor. Although stromal tumors are relatively rare in the duodenum, in the case of upper gastrointestinal obstruction and anemia, this type of tumors should be considered in differential diagnosis. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2005, 68, 95-97).