Clinical Practice Guidelines for Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in Taiwan

.For many years, the understanding of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), which are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, had been very limited. However, we are now able to provide a more precise definition through the use of pathology classification and molecular techniques. Coupled with the advancement of clinical practice, especially the development of targeted therapy, insight into GIST treatment has improved substantially. At present, organizations such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) in the USA and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) have established consensus and drawn up guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of GISTs.The Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology convened a group of multidisciplinary experts from across the country and drafted the first national GIST management guidelines in 2007 after a consensus meeting. Following subsequent treatment advances and the growing knowledge in tumor biology, the Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology experts have conducted a series of meetings to review newer evidence and made modifications to the original guidelines. We herein present the updated recommendations of the Taiwan Surgical Society of Gastroenterology for the diagnosis and treatment of GIST patients. We hope the guidelines can help enhance the quality of diagnosis, treatment and care of GIST patients in Taiwan.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology