About this disease
What it is about
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GIST for short, are a rare cancer that almost always originates in the gastrointestinal tract. Accordingly, patients with GIST mostly develop symptoms in the abdominal area. In the early stages, there is a good chance of cure. But even in the advanced stage, thanks to new drugs, a longer-term stabilization of the disease can be achieved.
Types
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors can occur from the esophagus to the anus. A much rarer subtype are the extraintestinal stromal tumors, so-called eGISTs. They originate in the abdominal cavity.
Symptoms and consequences
The symptoms depend on where the gastrointestinal stromal tumor grows. For example, the tumors can cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, stool irregularities or bloating. If the cancer has already spread and metastases are present, these are usually found within the abdominal cavity and the liver, which can cause intestinal obstruction, right-sided upper abdominal pain or a general deterioration of the general condition.
What we do for you
Examination and diagnosis
If GIST is suspected, further imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are indicated. During a gastroscopy and/or colonoscopy, tissue samples can be taken and used to determine whether a cancer is actually present.
Treatment
If possible, GIST is operated on. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors very often have molecular genetic alterations. If this is the case, targeted drugs can be used. Studies have also shown that such therapy following surgery can significantly reduce the recurrence rate. It can also be used if the cancer has already spread and spread throughout the body.