RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Gastrointestinal stromal tumor arising in the rectovaginal septum JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer JO Int J Gynecol Cancer FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 373 OP 377 DO 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-200403000-00028 VO 14 IS 2 A1 K. Nasu A1 T. Ueda A1 S. Kai A1 H. Anai A1 Y. Kimura A1 S. Yokoyama A1 I. Miyakawa YR 2004 UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/14/2/373.abstract AB We report herein a rare case of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) originated from the rectal wall, which presented as a tumor on the rectovaginal septum.A 54-year-old Japanese woman, gravida 4, para 3, was admitted complaining of anuresis and severe constipation. She had a history of hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy for uterine leiomyoma 11 years previously. Pelvic examination revealed an 8.5 × 7.5 × 7.5 cm hard mass in the rectovaginal space. The inferior border of the tumor was 2 cm from the vaginal introitus and 2 cm from the anus. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-circumscribed soft-tissue mass filling the rectovaginal space. Urinary bladder and rectum were markedly compressed and displaced. Colon fiberscopy revealed invasion of the tumor into the rectal mucosa. An abdominoperineal resection of the rectum with posterior vaginal wall resection and pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. The resected specimen showed a rectal submucosal tumor that was 8 × 8 × 7 cm in size. The tumor was diagnosed as a malignant GIST. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed this diagnosis. The patient is now healthy without evidence of recurrence at 13 months after surgery.Gynecologists should be aware of rectal GIST arising in the rectovaginal space as a differential diagnosis of vaginal submucosal tumor.