Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, Interstitial Cells of Cajal and their Nomenclature

Currently, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have been emphasized considerably in the literature. Following the date of the description of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) by Santiago Ramon y Cajal in the late 19th century, this issue has been very popular. Lately, discovery of the association of GISTs with c-Kit mutations in their development, and the significance of drugs such as imatinib, that inhibit c-Kit mutations in their treatment, has increased the interest of researchers. Our aim is to review the nomenclature about ICC and GISTs in the light of literature, to discuss the definition of GIST, which is a heterogeneous, pleomorphic tumor, in its historical progression and in the light of new data, and to suggest the naming these tumors as “tumor of Cajal”, “”Cajal tumor” or “Cajal cell tumor” instead.