Effectiveness of radiological findings of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the prediction of high-risk potential for malignancy: comparison of the NIH and AFIP criteria

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of our study was to identify the relevance of computed tomography findings in the prediction of malignancy potential in gastrointestinal stromal tumors and to compare the relationships between risk groups and computed tomography findings according to the National Institutes of Health and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria.

METHODS

We evaluated the computed tomography examinations of 23 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We evaluated the tumors according to size, contour, central hypodensity, contrast enhancement, growth pattern, mesenteric heterogeneity, local invasion, ulceration, presence of lymphadenopathy, fluid collection and metastasis. These findings were correlated with histopathologic findings, and their relevance on the prediction of malignancy potential was evaluated according to the National Institutes of Health and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria. We also evaluated the tumors for carrying high risk potential for malignancy.

RESULTS

Tumor size (p = 0.023) and central hypodensity (p = 0.036) were statistically significant for risk stratification according to the National Institutes of Health criteria. Contour irregularity (p = 0.036, p = 0.026) and mesenteric heterogeneity (p = 0.021, p = 0.005) were significant in the evaluation of high risk potential according to the National Institutes of Health and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria, respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Contour irregularity and mesenteric heterogeneity may be useful to predict the high risk potential according to the both criteria. Tumor size and central hypodensity may provide risk stratification according to the NIH criteria.