Giant gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the esophagus presenting with dyspnea

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare neo plasms thought to arise from mesenchymal cells of the gastrointestinal tract. These tumors demon strate a pathobiology and clinical behavior different from those of smooth muscle and Schwann cell tumors.1 GISTs account for 0.1% to 3% of all tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. Two thirds of these tumors arise from the stomach, 25% arise from the small intestine, and 5% arise from the esophagus. We describe a case of giant GIST of the esophagus that com pressed the right main bronchus and caused dyspnea.