En bloc corpectomy for late gastrointestinal stromal tumor metastasis: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Spinal metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare; however, the incidence has been increasing since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which have improved overall survival. Due to the rarity of cases, there are no treatment guidelines for spinal metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We describe a patient who underwent spinal metastasectomy for a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor; we further provide a review of all cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors with spinal metastases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old Japanese man who had undergone resection for a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor was diagnosed with L3 vertebral metastasis 10 years after surgery. As there were no metastases to vital organs, an en bloc corpectomy of the L3 vertebral body, using bilateral retroperitoneal approaches, was performed to achieve local cure and to prevent neural compression. A 3-year follow-up showed no local recurrence or new metastases; he had full neurological function. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal metastasectomy can be an effective treatment for solitary spinal metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.