[Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: clinical features and diagnosis].

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare, usually sporadic, and mainly located in the stomach or small bowel. Gastrointestinal bleeding is the main presenting symptom. GIST are discovered incidentally in 20% of cases. Endoscopy, and endosonography when possible, are the diagnostic procedures of choice for small GIST, while CT is used for larger tumors. Pathologic diagnosis can be obtained by fine-needle aspiration, but its indications must be discussed on an individual basis.