Surgical resection can achieve radical cure of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (DGISTs); however, there is no consensus on the choice of surgical technique.

The application of robotic surgery in the treatment of DGISTs.

Summarize the experience of a single center treating DGISTs by robotic resection.

The perioperative and demographic outcomes of a consecutive series of patients who underwent robotic surgery to treat DGISTs were retrospectively analyzed.

Of the 28 patients enrolled, 11 patients underwent open surgery, and 17 patients underwent robotic surgery. All the tumours were R0 resected, and there were no significant differences in age, sex, tumour size, operation mode, postoperative hospital stay, tumour mitosis, incidence of postoperative complications, risk classification, postoperative targeted drug therapy or postoperative recurrence between the two groups (P > 0.05). Operation time and estimated blood loss in the robotic group were significantly different to those in the open surgery group (P < 0.05). No significant difference in recurrence-free survival was noted between the open surgery group and the robotic surgery group (P > 0.05).

Robotic resection is safe and feasible for patients with DGISTs, and its therapeutic effect is equivalent to open surgery.

Accumulation of experience in the treatment of DGISTs using robotic resection is required.