Recurrent pulmonary embolization of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: a case report

We report a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor affecting the pulmonary artery in a 15-year-old male, presenting with a clinical scenario of recurrent pulmonary embolisms. During diagnostic workup for persistent fever, a mass in main pulmonary artery was detected at echocardiography and confirmed at angio-CT scan. The patient underwent a first successful surgical resection and discharged home with no echocardiographic evidence of residual lesions, but, after 5 months, he was admitted for hemoptysis and an angio CT-scan showed a mass in right pulmonary artery with multiple distal perfusion defects, suspicious for both thrombotic and secondary lesions. To prevent further embolisms, the patient was scheduled for a second surgical procedure, which allowed a complete removal of the tumor from major branches of right pulmonary arteries. Our experience highlights that, despite of its intermediate malignancy, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor may behave as an extremely dangerous condition, requiring multiple surgeries an integrated and multidisciplinary approach.