Gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated by laparoscopic surgery: report of three cases.

Three cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) were treated by a laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach. The tumor characteristics were confirmed to be nonepithelial, nonlymphomatous, nonmyogenic, and nonneurogenic gastrointestinal neoplasms with an uncertain origin which were CD34-positive and actin- and S-100-negative. The malignant potential was estimated based on the mitotic figures and growth rates. The results suggest that laparoscopic surgery is an adequate strategy for gastric submucosal tumors including GIST, and also indicates this technique to be a curative, safe, and minimally invasive procedure for both diagnosis and treatment.