Pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor (inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor): CT features with pathologic correlation

The objective of this study was to assess the CT features of pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors with pathologic correlation. The authors retrospectively reviewed CT and pathologic findings of 10 patients with surgically resected inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the lung. On CT, five patients showed a polypoid endotracheal (n = 3) or endobronchial nodule in the left main bronchus (n = 2). Two patients showed a central parenchymal mass, and the remaining three patients showed a peripheral pulmonary nodule. All tumors had well defined margins and were round to ovoid; they ranged in diameter from 13 to 52 mm and showed varying degrees of contrast enhancement (range 13-89 H). On histopathologic examination, the two central parenchymal masses involving segmental bronchi were also mainly endobronchial in location. The three peripheral pulmonary nodules also showed a peribronchiolar location, with a bronchial mucosal lining spared in part. The authors conclude that pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors are closely related to the airway.