Study affirms use of robotic approach in challenging gastric GIST resections

Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal tract that start in the stomach or small intestine. For GISTs that originate in the stomach (gastric GISTs), surgery is the standard treatment. However, gastric GISTs situated in hard-to-reach locations in the stomach such as the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) or lesser curvature present unique challenges—especially with laparoscopic surgery. In particular, it is difficult to completely remove the tumor while also preserving organ function.