What is a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)? --- By Sheeveda Govula

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a type of tumor that develops in the digestive tract, most often in the stomach or small intestine, but it can also occur in other parts like the esophagus or colon. GISTs start in special cells in the wall of the digestive organs called interstitial cells of Cajal, which help control the muscles that move food through the system. Most GISTs form due to changes in certain genes, causing these cells to grow uncontrollably. The symptoms of a GIST can include belly pain, feeling full quickly, nausea, or bleeding in the digestive tract, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all, and the tumor is found by accident during tests for other issues. GISTs are diagnosed through scans like CT or MRI and confirmed with a biopsy, where a small piece of the tumor is examined under a microscope.