The epithelioid gastrointestinal stromal tumor with pulmonary metastasis: A rare case report and literature review

RATIONALE: Available literature states that the histological subtype of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with pulmonary metastasis is often spindle cell type. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the GIST with pulmonary metastasis of very uncommon epithelioid subtype. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 63-year-old male presenting with the symptom of bloodstained sputum without obvious inducement. The patient had no chest pain, low back pain, fatigue, fever or night sweats symptoms. DIAGNOSES: Combined chest digital radiography and the history of the patient who presented with the colon GIST of the epithelioid subtype two years ago that the mass may be a metastasis tumor. Combined with morphological and immunohistochemical staining results, a pathological diagnosis of the GIST with pulmonary metastasis was considered. INTERVENTIONS: Right lobectomy and partial upper lobectomy were performed. OUTCOMES: The patient had not experienced any noticeable symptom and recurrent tumors at 6 months follow-up. LESSONS: We report a rare case of the GIST with pulmonary metastasis of epithelioid subtype. This case is of great significance to the pathologist's clinical work. For pathologists, if an epithelioid tumor in the lung is found, it is necessary to check whether the gastrointestinal tract also has the tumor, which may be an epithelioid GIST with pulmonary metastasis.