Most GISTs arise from the stomach or small intestine; however, they can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Unfortunately, GISTs can spread (metastasize) to other locations. When discussing GISTs, your health care team may refer to “primary tumors,” those in their original location, and “metastases,” tumors that have arisen from cells that traveled from the original tumor.

GISTs often spread to the liver and to other areas within the abdomen. They can also spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, and other locations outside of the abdomen, but these are very uncommon events.