Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach: the role of laparoscopic resection. Single-centre experience of 38 cases

Laparoscopic resection is considered the gold standard of treatment only for small gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

Between January 2004 and September 2012, 38 consecutive gastric GISTs were operated on by laparoscopic approach, without conversions. Thirty-five cases were primary GISTs and three were bleeding GISTs with hepatic metastases non-responding to conservative therapy treated by emergency surgery.

Median tumor size was 3.63 cm (1.8–17 cm). In two cases tumor size was <2 cm, between 2 and 5 cm in 26 cases, between 5 and 10 cm in eight cases, and >10 cm in two cases. In two cases, localization was in the cardia, fundus in ten cases, lesser curve in 11 cases, greater curve in 12 cases, and antrum in three cases. We performed 24 wedge resections, eight transgastric resections and six antrectomies. An Endo-GIA™ was used in 25 cases, and a manual laparoscopic reconstruction with extramucosal suture was performed in 13 cases. No postoperative mortality and morbidity was observed. The routine use of laparoscopy allowed us to perform resections in 100 % of cases, even in those where preoperative imaging suggested an open approach according to the current guidelines.

The use of a pre-resection endobag avoids spillage and seeding, thus increasing the possibility of resection. In conclusion, we consider the laparoscopic approach as mandatory in all cases, always considering the possibility of converting to the open technique when necessary.