A proposed risk assessment score for gastrointestinal stromal tumors based on evaluation of 19,030 cases from the National Cancer Database.

Background: Standard risk assessment algorithms for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) are based on anatomic and histopathological variables with arbitrarily defined subcategories. Our goal was to improve risk assessment for GIST through retrospective analysis of patient data.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients with GIST; the final cohort consisted of 19,030 cases.

BRAF V600E Mutations Occur in a Subset of Glomus Tumors, and Are Associated With Malignant Histologic Characteristics.

Glomus tumors are rare mesenchymal neoplasms with a phenotype akin to the modified smooth muscle cells of the glomus body. Most are benign, but rare examples show malignant histologic characteristics and aggressive behavior. We recently encountered a malignant glomus tumor with BRAF V600E mutation.