Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to duodenal stromal tumor.

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor represents a rare neoplasm that originates in the muscular wall of the hollow viscera.

Aim: To report gastrointestinal stromal tumor as a source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which required urgent surgical control.

Patient/method: A man with 61 years old was admitted to the emergency service sustaining hematemesis and melena. Endoscopy showed active bleeding from a tumor in the second portion of the duodenum, which was controlled by heater probe cauterization. Surgery was performed through a median laparotomy. A local resection of a 4 cm tumor in the second portion of the duodenum was carried out, together with a primary end-to-end anastomosis and a duodenal diverticulization. No complications happened during the post-operative period. Morphologic examination showed gastrointestinal stromal tumor with no atypical mitosis and a preserved capsule.

Conclusion: Albeit not being common, gastrointestinal stromal tumors can represent a source of substantial gastrointestinal hemorrhage.