Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor with bone metastases - Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent rather rare neoplasms. Most GISTs are benign; malignant tumors account for 20-30% of cases (overall, approximately 10-30% of GISTs exhibit malignant behavior). GISTs most commonly metastasize to the liver and abdominal cavity. Distant metastases to other sites, especially to the bones, are relatively rare. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with metastatic spread of GIST to skull, ribs and both sacroiliac joints manifesting six months after surgical resection of a gastric tumor. Although bone metastases from GISTs are rare and there are only a few reported cases in the literature, this case emphasizes that metastatic disease should always be considered in a patient with gastric GIST and suspicious bone lesions.