Is there value in the routine inclusion of chest computed tomography for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor?

Abstract

Purpose

National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines suggest chest CT when gastrointestinal stromal tumors are larger than 2 cm. We evaluate the value of screening the chest region during initial and follow-up CT.

Method

Single institution retrospective analysis of GIST cancer registry for patients diagnosed between May 2010 and November 2019 with tumor > 2 cm. We collected the patient demographics and clinical data; reviewed all CT scans of the chest region and recorded the lung nodules. Patients were grouped into lung nodule group and non-nodule group. Categorical variables were compared with the Chi square test and continuous variables with the Mann-Whitney U test. The survival probability was determined from Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank test for comparing differences.

Results

The final cohort included 382 patients (median age 61 years-old [interquartile range: 52–71]) and grouped into non-nodule group (n = 284) and lung nodule group (n = 98). The frequency of the CT scan was more in lung nodule group (8 [5–12]) than in non-nodule group (4 [2–9], p < 0.001). The lung nodule group had more CT including the chest region (6 [3–10] vs 3 [1–7], p < 0.001). In progressive lung nodules (8/98 [8 %]), only one patient had confirmed lung metastasis from GIST (1/382 [3 %]). There was no difference in overall survival between nodule groups (p = 0.12).

Conclusions

GIST patients with tumors larger than 2 cm have extremely low risk for lung metastasis. Routine inclusion of chest CT scan in staging and follow up is unnecessary.