Sigmoid 'GIST' Masquerading as Intestinal Obstruction

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are one of the most prevalent mesenchymal tumours of the digestive tract despite constituting less than 1% of all gastrointestinal cancers. GISTs usually occur in the stomach followed by the small intestine and rarely in the colon and esophagus. Furthermore, colorectal GIST is usually in the rectum, so sigmoid GIST is rather uncommon. Abdominal pain, GI bleeding, anaemia, and weight loss are the common presentations of the affected patients.

Large bowel obstruction is defined as bowel obstruction distal to the ileocaecal valve, commonly caused by an underlying carcinoma or less commonly diverticular disease Acute obstructions present with rapid onset of pain, distension, and abdominal tenderness.

Here is a case of a 58-year-old gentleman who presented with acute large intestinal obstruction with no significant previous history and underwent emergency laparotomy with resection of sigmoid colon with a tumor, which on histopathology was diagnosed to be a high-grade GIST.