Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the lung: recurrence after steroid treatment

Steroid responsive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the lung evaluated by FDG PET/CT imaging

A 68-year-old gentleman was referred for ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT for a pulmonary mass in the left upper lobe which demonstrated intensely FDG-avid confluent pulmonary consolidation in the left upper lobe (SUV_max 15.1). Histopathologic biopsy of the left upper lobe lung mass was consistent with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). The patient was started on steroid treatment in conjunction with antibiotics. Follow-up FDG PET/CT 3 weeks after commence of treatment showed remarkable response of the IMTs to therapy with much less avid FDG uptake (SUV_max 5.4) and marked improvement in the pulmonary consolidation. Nevertheless, the patient underwent left upper lobe lobectomy due to evidence of persistent cystic disease and malignant potential associated with IMTs. Final histopathology was consistent with IMT with no evidence of malignancy.

Histopathological landscape of rare oesophageal neoplasms

The landscape of neoplastic pathology of the oesophagus is dominated by malignancies of epithelial origin, in particular by oesophageal adenocarcinoma and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, several other histopathological variants can be distinguished, some associated with peculiar histopathological profiles and prognostic behaviours and frequently underrecognized in clinical practice. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive characterization of the main morphological and clinical features of these rare variants of oesophageal neoplastic lesions.

Remission of ALK-negative primary pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor on treatment with clarithromycin: A case report and review of the literature

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) belong to an intermediate group of soft-tissue tumors, they are relatively rare but exhibit a wide range of pathologies, from benign to malignant. At present, no standard treatment has been established, however, it is known to be important to determine the grade of malignancy of the tumor, prior to treatment. The present study reports a 73-year-old female patient with no clinical manifestations, who, when examined radiographically at a health check exhibited bilateral thoracic infiltrative shadows and nodular shadows by chest CT. A metastatic tumor or an organizing pneumonia were suspected. Blood examination showed no abnormal findings, and a pathological diagnosis of IMT was given from the histological findings of the tissue extracted by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Histological analysis established the lack of expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK1) and immunoglobulin subtype G4 (IgG4). Alteration of the radiological shadows was observed over several weeks, and after concluding that chronic inflammation was worsening the patient's condition, clarithromycin was administered as a long-term macrolide therapy. The IMT decreased in size, and eight months later it had almost resolved. The patient was last reported to be maintaining a stable condition with no relapse. Some IMT cases have malignant pathology, and should be carefully followed-up. However, in the present case, where the IMT is both ALK1-negative and IgG4-negative, its biological immune responsiveness appears to differ from positive cases, and an inflammatory response was predominant. Clarithromycin, has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and appeared to be effective in treating the IMT of the patient in the present study.

Imaging observations of pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in patients over 40 years old

Pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (PIMTs) are extremely rare in adults. If occurring in patients >40 years old, PIMT should be rapidly distinguished from lung cancer. The present study aimed to characterize the imaging features of PIMT in patients >40 years old in order to improve the diagnosis of PIMT. The imaging data of 10 patients with PIMT were reviewed retrospectively. Of the patients, eight underwent computed tomography (CT), two underwent positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and four underwent single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Unenhanced CT revealed 10 lesions with a maximum diameter ranging between 5 and 57 mm located in the lower (n=6) or upper (n=4) lobe, in a peripheral (n=9) or central (n=1) region, and that were well- (n=4) or ill-defined (n=6), and round to oval (n=5) or irregular (n=5) in shape. Calcification (n=3), necrosis (n=6), cavity (n=4), air bronchogram (n=6) and obstructive pneumonia (n=1) were also observed in the patients. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed six lesions with moderate to high contrast enhancement in the arterial and venous phases, including four lesions with delayed enhancement. PET/CT identified two lesions with increased tracer uptake that were homogeneous and heterogeneous and each exhibited a maximal standard uptake value (SUV_max) of 6.0 and 5.4, respectively. The delayed PET/CT revealed foci that each exhibited an increased SUV_max of 6.9 and 5.9, respectively. SPECT demonstrated no definitive bone metastases, but did reveal atypical hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy in one patient. The combined imaging methods may lead to a more precise evaluation of PIMT in patients >40 years old.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the esophagus in childhood: a case report and a review of the literature

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare mesenchymal disease of low malignancy consisting of inflammatory cells inside a mesenchymal stroma comprising myofibroblasts. Biological behavior is variable, recurrence is uncommon, metastatic disease is rare. Treatment strategy is based on the status of low-grade malignant tumor. Radical surgery is considered to be the principal treatment modality, except if it requires a mutilating procedure. Only 6 cases of pediatric patients treated for IMT of the esophagus have been reported in English-language literature. Herein, a case of a 13-year-old boy with an IMT of the esophagus is presented.

Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of a large pleural inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

We report a 48-year-old woman with a pleural pseudoneoplasm requiring different diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. After initial presentation with increasing dyspnoea, temperature, dry cough, and interscapular pain diagnostic processing showed a large mediastinal mass with marked pleural effusion and high metabolic activity in the 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Extensive CT-guided biopsy of the tumor reaching from the visceral pleura into the right upper lobe revealed no malignancy, but a marked inflammatory tissue reaction containing foam cells. Initial empiric antibiotic therapy was temporarily successful. However, in the further course the mass relapsed and was resistant to antibiotics and a corticosteroid trial. With the working hypothesis of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor the patient underwent surgical tumor resection, finally confirming the suspected diagnosis. Due to residual disease intravenous immunoglobulins were administered leading to sustained response. This case with a pleural localisation of a large inflammatory pseudotumor with responsiveness to immunomodulation after incomplete resection extends the reported spectrum of thoracopulmonary manifestations of this rare entity.

Immunoglobulin G4 related systemic sclerosing disease involving the temporal bone

Objective:

To report a rare condition affecting the temporal bone. Immunoglobulin G4 related systemic sclerosing disease is a recently described autoimmune condition with manifestations typically involving the pancreas, biliary system, salivary glands, lungs, kidneys and prostate. Histologically, it is characterised by T-cell infiltration, fibrosis and numerous immunoglobulin G4-positive plasma cells. This condition previously fell under the umbrella diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumour and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.

Case report:

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with multiple inflammatory masses involving the pharynx, gall bladder, lungs, pelvis, omentum, eyes and left temporal bone, over a seven-year period. We describe this patient's unusual clinical course and pathological features, which resulted in a change of diagnosis from metastatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour to immunoglobulin G4 related systemic sclerosing disease. We also review the literature regarding the management of inflammatory pseudotumours of the temporal bone, and how this differs from the management of immunoglobulin G4 related systemic sclerosing disease.

Conclusion:

We would recommend a full review of all histological specimens in patients with a diagnosis of temporal bone inflammatory pseudotumour or inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour. Consideration should be given to immunohistochemical analysis for anaplastic lymphoma kinase and immunoglobulin G4, with measurement of serum levels of the latter. Management of the condition is medical, with corticosteroids and immunosuppression, rather than surgical excision.