Objective:To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of small gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) of the stomach.Methods:A total of 31 small gastric GIST patients,including 10 males and 21 females,with a median age of 58 years(37-81 years),who underwent surgery at any time from 1999 to 2012 were included in this study.The clinical records of the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Abdominal discomfort and pain(10 cases,32.3%,respectively) were the two most common complaints among the patients.All patients received surgery,11 received gastric wedge resection,11 received subtotal gastrectomy,5 received laparoscopic gastric wedge resection,and 4 received endoscopic submucosal dissection.No severe adverse complication was observed.A total of 29 patients(93.5%) were followed up.During the follow-up,2 patients were found to exhibit tumor recurrence,and 1 patient had liver metastases.One patient died of tumor progression,while another died of another malignant tumor.Median progression free survival(PFS) time was 120.3 months,and median overall survival(OS) time was 130.4 months.Conclusion:Small gastric GIST has better prognosis.Surgery is the best choice for therapy.Micro-invasive procedures are safe and effective for elective patients.Tumor necrosis,tumor bleeding,and muscle invasion are potential prognostic factors of small gastric GIST. Objective: To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of small gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach. Methods: A total of 31 small gastric GIST patients, including 10 males and 21 females, with a median age of 58 years (37- 81 years), who underwent surgery at any time from 1999 to 2012 were included in this study. The clinical records of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Abdominal discomfort and pain (10 cases, 32.3%, respectively) were the two most common complaints among the patients. All patients received surgery, 11 received gastric wedge resection, 11 received subtotal gastrectomy, 5 received laparoscopic gastric wedge resection, and 4 received endoscopic submucosal dissection. No severe adverse complication was observed. A total of 29 patients (93.5% ) followed subsequently. During the follow-up, 2 patients were found to exhibit tumor recurrence, and 1 patient had liver metastases. One patient died of tumor progression, while another died of another m Median progression free survival (PFS) was 120.3 months, and median overall survival (OS) time was 130.4 months. Confusion: Small gastric GIST has better prognosis. Surgery is the best choice for therapy. Micro-invasive procedures are safe and effective for elective patients. Tumor necrosis, tumor bleeding, and muscle invasion are potential prognostic factors of small gastric GIST.