Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the upper GI tract: population-based analysis of epidemiology, treatment and outcome based on data from the German Clinical Cancer Registry Group.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare mesenchymal tumors. They are most frequently located in the stomach but are also found in the esophagus and the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Information regarding the prognostic factors associated with upper gastrointestinal GIST is still scarse.