Acute diffuse peritonitis due to spontaneous rupture of a primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the jejunum: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Overt peritonitis caused by GIST rupture is very uncommon. Three types of GIST rupture have been described: closed perforation due to abscess (abscess type), hemoperitoneum leading to rupture of the hematoma capsule in the tumor (hemoperitoneum type), and perforation of the digestive tract via a fistula leading to central necrosis of the tumor (bowel perforation type). This report describes a patient with spontaneous tumor rupture and diffuse peritonitis, a variant of the bowel perforation type of GIST rupture.

PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 74-year-old man presented with symptoms of vomiting and abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an approximately 10×7-cm mass in the pelvis with free air and fluid collection. Emergency laparotomy revealed a tumor in the jejunum, which was ruptured with a hole measuring 5mm in diameter. The tumor and part of the jejunum were resected. Immunohistochemically, the mass was diagnosed as a GIST originating from the gastrointestinal tract. Despite chemotherapy with imatinib mesylate, the patient died 22 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: This report describes a patient with acute diffuse peritonitis due to spontaneous rupture of a primary GIST of the jejunum.