Clinical Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2006; 12(14): 2223-2228
Published online Apr 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i14.2223
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in a cohort of Chinese patients in Hong Kong
Kam Hoi Chan, Chun Wing Chan, Wai Hung Chow, Wai Keung Kwan, Chi Kwan Kong, Ka Fung Mak, Miu Yi Leung, Lin Kiu Lau
Kam Hoi Chan, Chun Wing Chan, Wai Hung Chow, Wai Keung Kwan, Department of Medicine, Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China
Chi Kwan Kong, Department of Surgery, Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China
Ka Fung Mak, Miu Yi Leung, Department of Radiology, Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China
Lin Kiu Lau, Department of Pathology, Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China
Correspondence to: Dr. Kam Hoi Chan, Department of Medicine, Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong SAR, China. kamhoichan@gmail.com
Telephone: +852-94851466 Fax: +852-24116536
Received: August 17, 2005
Revised: August 21, 2005
Accepted: August 27, 2005
Published online: April 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and clinical pattern of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in Hong Kong Chinese, and to assess the impact of introduction of CD117 on the disease incidence.

METHODS: From the database of the Department of Pathology of Yan Chai Hospital, 47 patients, with GISTs from September 1995 to December 2003 were included in this study. Ten GISTs were diagnosed before the introduction of CD117. The clinical features, tumor characteristics, and treatment were analyzed. Factors predicting tumor related death or recurrence were studied with Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS: The patients included 26 males and 21 females, with a mean age of 66.6 years (SD 13.1, range 29-87 years). The estimated prevalence of GISTs was 13.4-15.6 per 100 000 people, with an annual incidence of 1.68-1.96 per 100 000 people. The annual incidence of GISTs before and after the introduction of CD117 was 1.1 per 100 000 people and 2.1 per 100 000 people respectively. Stomach (34 patients, 72.3%) was the most common location for the tumor, followed by the small intestine (8 patients, 17.0%), esophagus (2 patients, 4.3%), omentum (2 patients, 4.3%) and colon (1 patient, 2.1%). Thirty-one patients (66%) had complete tumor resection. Eleven out of 16 deaths (23%) were tumor-related. The median survival time was 26 mo. Five-year survival rate was 61.3%. The significant factors associated with tumor-related death or recurrence were incomplete resection, tumor size 5 cm or above, invasion to the adjacent organ or presence of metastasis.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of GIST in Hong Kong is comparable to that in the United States but lower than that in Finland. The true incidence of GISTs could be underestimated before the introduction of CD117. Incomplete resection, tumor size 5 cm or above, invasion to the adjacent organ or presence of metastasis are factors predicting tumor-related death or recurrence.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal tumor, GIST, Prognostic factors, Clinical features, Incidence