Mixed spindle and epithelioid cell type gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the esophagus: a case report

Fewer than 1 % of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are of the esophagus. This report describes a 63-year-old female diagnosed with mixed spindle/epithelioid cell GIST of the esophagus. She was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of nausea and hematemesis. Preoperative imaging showed a huge submucosal tumor in the lower thoracic and abdominal esophagus. Pathologic examination of an endoscopic biopsy sample suggested squamous cell carcinoma. She underwent subtotal esophagectomy and reconstruction with a gastric tube. Postoperative pathological diagnosis revealed a mixed spindle/epithelioid cell type GIST. The tumor measured 8 × 6 cm, with 30–50 mitotic counts per high power field, immunohistochemical positivity for C-kit (CD117) and CD34 and high risk by modified Fletcher classification. Adjuvant chemotherapy with imatinib mesylate was started 3 months after surgery. Preoperative pathological examination, including staining for CD117 and CD34, of biopsy samples of apparently stromal tumors may be required to rule out rare subtypes of GIST.