Abstract

Purpose: To determine the importance of immunohistochemical panel including CD117 in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gut wall. The most important features of these tumors are the expression of CD117 and CD34. There are difficulties in their differential diagnosis with other mesenchymal tumors. In this contexte immunohistochemical panel including CD117, CD34,actin and desmin should be utilized. The variability of their biological behaviour and their eventual curability, increase the importance of these tumors. Material and Methods: In this study mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract diagnosed in the Pathology Department of Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine were revised. The immunohistochemical panel necessary for the diagnosis of stromal tumors was applied to all of these cases, to find the rate of occurrence of stromal tumors. Results: Six tumors previously diagnosed as mesenchymal tumor and 11 cases diagnosed as stromal tumor were positive for CD117. After CD117 staining 17 tumors among 20 were diagnosed as stromal tumors Conclusion: CD117 and CD34 are important markers and it seems that by performing immunohistostaining to all mesenchymal tumors, stromal tumors will be diagnosed more frequently.