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A case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor diagnosed on prostate biopsy

Abstract

Background A 56-year-old man initially presented to a local urologist with severe lower urinary tract symptoms and microhematuria. He had a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, mild asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, and pyeloplasty as a child. Investigations at this time included urinalysis, measurement of serum PSA levels, cystoscopy, urine cytology, and renal ultrasonography. The findings were suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the patient received finasteride, tamsulosin, and underwent transurethral needle ablation of the prostate. Four years after the initial presentation, the patient presented to a tertiary institution with worsened symptoms.

Investigations Upon re-presentation, investigations included measurement of serum PSA levels, pelvic CT, transrectal ultrasoundguided prostate biopsy, histological examination of the biopsy specimen and immunohistochemical staining.

Diagnosis Gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Management Imatinib 400 mg daily followed by surgical resection.

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Figure 1: CT image demonstrating the 14 cm mass with heterogeneous enhancement emanating from the prostate (arrow).
Figure 2: Pathology of the patient's tumor.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jonathan I Epstein, MD, and the Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology, for help with the preparation of the histologic slide featured in Figure 2.

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Loeb, S., Lotan, T., Thornton, K. et al. A case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor diagnosed on prostate biopsy. Nat Rev Urol 6, 54–57 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpuro1264

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