Small bowel Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors can physiologically alter gut motility before causing mechanical obstruction

BACKGROUND: Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs) are rare stromal neoplasms that represent the most common mesenchymal tumor of the G.I. tract, accounting for 5% of all sarcomas [1,2]. Originating from interstitial cells of Cajal, which are regulators of gut peristalsis, they are preferentially located in the stomach and the small intestine [3] and clinical presentation is variable, ranging from vague complaints to major G.I. bleeding. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for patients with resectable GIST and 5-year survival ranges from 21% to 88% in different series depending on risk grading and completeness of surgical resection [4,5]. Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, provides an encouraging option for treating high risk GISTs. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 62-year-old lady who had been diagnosed and being treated unsuccessfully for Irritable bowel syndrome for 11 years and eventually found to have an obstructing small bowel GIST. CONCLUSION: The symptoms from GIST may mimic those of irritable bowel syndrome. A physiological alteration in gut peristalsis resulting from neoplastic transformation of the interstitial cells of Cajal, is a hypothesis that could explain this presentation. An alternative diagnosis should be considered when treating patients with irritable bowel syndrome who fail to respond for a prolonged period.