Description Scotland Iceland [12] Netherlands [8] Western Sweden [15] Girona Spain [18] Nottingham England [20] Taiwan [19] Modena Italy [21] Year 1995-1999 1990-2003 1995 1998-2003 1983-2000 1994-2001 1987-2003 1998-2004 1991-2004 No of patients 125 57 1995 32 1998-2003 1137 288 46 185 93 124 Median age (range) 69 (24-92) 66(24-90) n/a 69 (10-92) 63 (26-90) 64 (18-93)   69 (30-90) Male:Female % 47:53 44:56 n/a 50:50 48:52 47:53 1:1.2 53:47 Patients Identificationmethod Population based using path records Population based and autopsy National Path registry - prospective Population based using path records Limited area, population based Population based using path records Pathology files from a medical centre Population based using path records NIH group (%) Very low 11.2 23 9.7 16.5 32.6 n/a     Low 27.2 32 14.5 33.5   43     Intermediate 24 17 30.6 19 30.4 20     High 31.2 23 45.2 21 37 37   47 n/a 6.4 5   10 *         IHC confirmation using CD117 +/- CD34 Yes Yes Not specified Not specified Yes Not specified Yes Yes Crude Incidence Rates /100 000 0.69 1.1 0.21 1995 1.27 1998 -2003 1.45 1.1 1.32 1.37 1.3 Median follow up (years) 11.7 2.6 n/a   4.5 4.2   5.2 *Some series classified metastatic disease as overtly malignant

Table 3: Comparison with other studies of GIST incidence.