Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) while uncommon may arise within numerous organs. Historically, the literature regarding IMT has been confined to small one organ case series, with few reviews encompassing multiple anatomic sites, and little data regarding adjuvant treatment.

A review of patients with IMT treated at two large academic medical centers over a 15-year period was undertaken. Patient demographics, pathologic diagnoses, and pertinent clinical data were obtained.

Forty-four cases of pathologically confirmed IMT were identified. Tumor locations included multiple anatomic sites. Therapies included complete resection, incomplete resection, observation, or chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Five patients underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy following surgery (14%) for local aggressiveness of the tumor, invasion, positive margins, or location of tumor that was not amenable to surgical resection. A second, concomitant, histologically distinct, neoplasm was identified in five cases. Of the patients who underwent treatment three local recurrences were noted (8%) and occurred in patients with partial resection without adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors may be a locally aggressive and destructive neoplasm. Tumor recurrence is unusual following complete surgical resection or organ-preserving combined modality therapy.