Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor to the Scalp: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges and Molecular Correlation.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare gastrointestinal mesenchymal neoplasms. While the liver and peritoneum are the most common metastatic sites, skin involvement is rare. Nevertheless, recognizing skin metastases is crucial as it guides targeted treatment and indicates the possibility of widespread disease. Skin metastases pose diagnostic challenges due to histopathologic and clinical variability, often resembling other tumors. We present an 81-year-old female with metastatic GIST involving the scalp with corroborative molecular data. This case underscores the fundamental nature of clinicopathologic correlation and the role of molecular analysis in aiding diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and revealing the prognostic implications of rare metastatic patterns of GISTs.