Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are lesions whose diagnosis and treatment have varied in the last decade. We report a 76 year-old male with a history of eight episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. A duodenography showed an elevated lesion in the third portion of the duodenum with a central ulceration. It was initially managed with tumorectomy and primary closure of the duodenum. The pathological study of the surgical specimen revealed a low grade gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Three years later, the tumor recurred and pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Due to the high risk of malignant potential, tumor size, number of mitoses and the presence of necrosis, imatinib mesylate was started. The patient had a satisfactory evolution, without evidences of recurrence after 15 months of follow up.