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Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the commonest mesenchymal tumour to affect the gastrointestinal tract. Appropriate management requires accurate diagnosis and the skills of a multidisciplinary team. Surgery is the only curative treatment option and should be performed whenever feasible, by experienced personnel. For patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic disease, the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib offers effective therapy and can provide effective palliation for the majority of patients with this disease. The background to this recent development and a guideline for the management of GIST is proposed.