OBJECTIVETo analyze the CT manifestations of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and explore the value of CT in the diagnosis and therapeutic effect evaluation of these tumors.

METHODSA retrospectively analysis of the medical imaging data was conducted in 39 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors confirmed by surgery and pathology in comparison with the pathological findings.

RESULTSOf the 39 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 2 had esophageal stromal tumors, 23 had gastric stromal tumor, 7 had duodenal stromal tumor, 4 had jejunal stromal tumors, 2 had ileal stromal tumors, and 1 had colon stromal tumor. Twenty-five patients were found to have highly malignant tumors, and 11 had low-grade tumors, with the other 3 having tumors of unidentifiable nature. CT displayed exogenous or endogenous mass in these cases, and the tumors had a maximum diameter ranging from 3 to 45 cm (<5 cm in 12 cases and >or=5 cm in 27 cases). Of the 27 cases with a tumor diameter over 5 cm, 23 had malignant stromal tumors, and the tumor mass showed heterogeneous density with central necrosis and cystic and the solid portion of the tumor exhibited mild to moderate enhancement. Six patients were found to have intratumoral punctate calcification, and 17 with malignant tumors showed high peripheral enhancement, with the solid portion of the tumors showing delayed enhancement. The 6 patients with unresectable tumors received chemotherapy resulting in significantly reduced tumor diameter and cystic and necrotic foci in the tumor.

CONCLUSIONMulti-slice spiral CT allows precise localization and qualitative assessment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and also helps in the evaluation of the therapeutic effect.