Gastrointestinal stromal tumor physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Akshun Kalia M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

Common physical examination findings of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) include abdominal distension and palpable abdominal mass. Patients with severe and longstanding GIST can present with signs of abdominal perforation and peritonitis such as abdominal tenderness, rigidity and guarding. Other findings include those from tumor rupture and blood loss such as low blood pressure, tachycardia, and dyspnea.

Physical Examination

Physical examination of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is usually positive for abdominal distension and palpable abdominal mass. Other findings include:^[1]^[2]^[3]

Abdominal distention
Succussion splash (gastric outlet obstruction with GIST in pylorus)
Shifting dullness (intraperitoneal rupture of large GIST with hemoperitoneum)
Palpable abdominal mass (location depends upon the site of GIST)
Severe cases may have abdominal perforation with signs of peritonitis such as:
- Abdominal tenderness
- Rigidity
- Guarding

References

↑ Szanto P, Barbus A, Al Hajjar N, Zaharia T, Manciula D (2007). “Gastric stromal tumor: a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding”. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 16 (4): 441–3. PMID 18193130.
↑ Sandvik OM, Søreide K, Kvaløy JT, Gudlaugsson E, Søreide JA (2011). “Epidemiology of gastrointestinal stromal tumours: single-institution experience and clinical presentation over three decades”. Cancer Epidemiol. 35 (6): 515–20. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2011.03.002. PMID 21489899.
↑ Motegi A, Sakurai S, Nakayama H, Sano T, Oyama T, Nakajima T (2005). “PKC theta, a novel immunohistochemical marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), especially useful for identifying KIT-negative tumors”. Pathol. Int. 55 (3): 106–12. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1827.2005.01806.x. PMID 15743318.

Overview