What are the indications for surgery for gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors (GIST)?

  For unresectable limited GIST, or near-resectable GIST, but with a high risk of resection or possible serious impact on organ function, preoperative molecular targeting drug therapy is recommended, and surgery should be performed after the tumor shrinks.  For asymptomatic GIST located in the stomach with a maximum diameter of ≤50px, the risk classification should be determined based on the ultrasound endoscopic presentation; the adverse factors are irregular borders, strong echogenicity of the ulcer, and heterogeneity. For recurrent or metastatic GISTs, it is preferable to remove them surgically.  For recurrent or metastatic GIST, there are several types of cases, which need to be treated differently: if the tumor is not treated with molecular targeting drugs, but is estimated to be completely resectable and the risk of surgery is not significant, surgical resection and combined drug therapy can be considered; if molecular targeting drug therapy is effective and the tumor remains stable, and it is estimated that all recurrent metastatic lesions can be resected, surgical resection is recommended For recurrent metastatic GIST with limited progression, in view of satisfactory overall control after molecular targeted drug therapy and only single or few progressive lesions, surgical resection may be considered for patients in good general condition; surgical resection of progressive lesions and as many metastases as possible to complete a more satisfactory tumor reduction surgery; for recurrent metastatic GIST with extensive progression despite molecular targeted drug therapy, surgical resection is recommended. In principle, surgery is not considered for metastatic GISTs that have progressed extensively despite molecular targeted drug therapy; palliative tumor reduction surgery is limited to cases where the patient can tolerate surgery and where it is expected to improve the patient’s quality of life.  Emergency surgery is indicated when GIST causes complete intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation, gastrointestinal hemorrhage when conservative treatment is ineffective, or abdominal hemorrhage due to spontaneous tumor rupture.