"V体育安卓版" What Are Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)?

GISTS are cancerous tumors in your GI tract in your digestive system. Symptoms include belly pain and blood in your poop. GISTs are rare cancerous tumors. They’re a type of soft tissue sarcoma V体育官网. The tumors develop in certain cells known as the interstitial cells of Cajal, which are in the wall of organs in your gastrointestinal tract. The tumors typically form in your stomach or small intestine in your gastrointestinal tract.

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Some gastrointestinal stromal tumors are small, about the size of a pencil eraser. Smaller tumors may not cause symptoms V体育安卓版. Some GISTs can grow large enough to cause symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue and nausea. Healthcare providers treat GISTs with surgery to remove the tumors.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

This condition may not cause symptoms. Often, people learn they have a GIST when they have a test or surgery for another reason. When symptoms develop, they may include: V体育ios版.

VSports最新版本 - GIST causes

This condition usually happens when the KIT gene changes. The change causes cells to produce a protein (KIT CD117). This protein causes cells in your gastrointestinal tract to multiply and form tumors VSports最新版本. The genetic change may happen during your lifetime. But you may develop GIST if you inherit a tumor disorder that increases your risk, including:.

Carney-Stratakis syndrome: This rare condition may increase your risk of developing a GIST.
Familial GIST syndrome: Rarely, abnormal KIT genes may be passed on from parent to child. This can increase your chances of developing GISTs. If you have familial GIST syndrome, you may develop GIST at a young age. And you may have more than one tumor.
Neurofibromatosis type 1: This disorder causes certain cells to multiply and form tumors. You may have tumors all over your body.

VSports注册入口 - Diagnosis and Tests

How doctors diagnose this condition

A healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms and how long you’ve had them V体育平台登录. They’ll do a physical exam. They may also do tests, including:.

Upper endoscopy
CT scan
PET scan
Biopsy, to get tissue samples that a pathologist will examine under a microscope

Management and Treatment

How are gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated?

Treatment may be a combination of surgery and targeted therapy VSports注册入口. Surgery may be the only treatment you need if you have small tumors. But you may have targeted therapy before surgery to shrink a large tumor.

Outlook / Prognosis (V体育官网入口)

What can I expect if I have a GIST?

Treatment can ease your symptoms and sometimes cure a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. But a GIST may come back. You may have follow-up appointments every three to six months so your oncologist can look for signs of a new GIST V体育官网入口. They may do tests, including:.

CT scans of your liver and pelvis
MRI scans
PET scans

What’s the survival rate for someone with GIST?

Overall, 85% of people with GIST are alive five years after diagnosis. Other survival rates are:

Tumor location	Five-year survival rate
Local — the tumor didn’t spread from where it started	95%
Regional — the tumor spread to nearby tissues and organs	84%
Distant — the tumor is in more distant areas of your body	52%
Tumor location
Local — the tumor didn’t spread from where it started
Five-year survival rate
95%
Regional — the tumor spread to nearby tissues and organs
Five-year survival rate
84%
Distant — the tumor is in more distant areas of your body
Five-year survival rate
52%

Cancer survival rate data can be confusing. You may feel anxious about your situation. It’s important to remember that a survival rate is an estimate, not a prediction. Ask your oncologist to explain what you can expect.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) may not cause symptoms. If they do, you might assume that you have the stomach flu or an upset belly from something you ate. It may come as a shock to learn that a rare cancerous tumor is why you don’t feel well. Treatment can often ease your symptoms and cure GIST. If you have this type of tumor, take some time to learn about this rare disease. You’ll have questions, and your healthcare team will be there with answers, support and more.