Can Anemia or Bleeding Be a Sign of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors?

Anemia and gastrointestinal bleeding are among the most common symptoms for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), explained Dr. Rosario Ligresti, chief of Gastroenterology and Interventional Endoscopy at Hackensack Meridian Health.

Ligresti noted that symptoms of GIST often depend on the size and location of the tumor. While many patients have no symptoms and are diagnosed incidentally — often during an endoscopy for another reason — larger tumors may ulcerate and bleed, cause difficulty swallowing, or present as a palpable abdominal mass. Although GISTs can develop in the small bowel, esophagus or colon, Ligresti said they most commonly occur in the stomach.

Ligresti sat down for an interview with CURE to delve into the topic.

Transcript:

What are the most common symptoms or signs patients with GIST might experience before being diagnosed?

The majority of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GISTs, vary in symptoms depending on their location and size. The most common location for GISTs is the stomach — probably about 60% to 65% of the cases I see occur there. This is likely because the stomach is a very muscular organ, and these tumors arise from the muscular supporting structure of the gastrointestinal tract. They can also be located in the small bowel, esophagus or colon, but far less commonly. Symptoms are largely determined by the tumor’s location.

If the tumors are small, patients often have no symptoms at all, and the tumors are found incidentally. As they grow larger, they can ulcerate, leading to bleeding. They may cause trouble swallowing if they obstruct the esophagus or stomach. Sometimes, patients may feel a mass when palpating the abdomen. Depending on location, GISTs can cause anemia, bleeding, difficulty swallowing or pressure-related effects. In fact, the vast majority are discovered incidentally, often during an endoscopy for another reason, like reflux. If symptoms do occur, the most common are anemia or bleeding.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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