Gastrointestinal stromal tumour presenting with severe bleeding: a review of the molecular biology.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are rare in children. A 7-year-old boy presented acutely with a severe upper gastrointestinal bleed and was found following angiography to have such a tumour in the duodenum, which was resected at laparotomy. The presence of CD 117 positive immunostaining was a confirmatory diagnostic marker. The prognosis and underlying molecular biology of the tumour is discussed. Understanding of the molecular pathogenesis has given rise to promising new therapies.