An atypical presentation of gastrointestinal stromal tumour: a case report

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) occur more commonly in the stomach and make up ~80% of the GI mesenchymal neoplasms. They are very rare in young adults and in males. The diagnosis is confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. Once diagnosed, survival rates are dependent on various factors. The main treatment is resection, but targeted therapy can be used pre or post-operatively. This case is of a 35-year-old female with no significant medical history presenting to her general practitioner with lethargy, malaise and mild weight loss. Initially, she was investigated for a haematological malignancy, but upon further investigations, her computed tomography (CT) scan showed an abdominal mass, which was resected and found to be a high-grade perforated gastrointestinal stromal tumour in her proximal ileum. This is a good example of an atypical presentation of GIST and emphasizes the importance of thorough workup and prompt surgical intervention in achieving a satisfactory outcome.