# Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Lung: A Report of a Rare Case

**Authors:** Jayashree Bhawani, Samarth Shukla, Sourya Acharya

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.63892 · Cureus · 2024-07-05

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of a lung tumor called inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in a 53-year-old woman, highlighting its unusual presentation and diagnostic challenges.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting a rare case of PIMT in an older adult, expanding understanding of its clinical variability.

## Key findings

- PIMT typically affects children and young adults but can occur in older individuals.
- Diagnosis relies on histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular testing.
- Surgical resection is the primary treatment with a generally favorable prognosis.

## Abstract

The uncommon and mysterious pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (PIMT) primarily affects children and young people. PIMT is characterized by the proliferation of myofibroblastic spindle cells mixed with inflammatory cells. It can resemble both benign and malignant disorders, both radiographically and clinically. PIMT typically manifests as a solitary lung tumor. The genesis of the tumor is linked to genetic anomalies, including those related to the ALK gene (anaplastic lymphoma kinase); nonetheless, some cases are not ALK-positive, indicating genetic variability. Clinically, patients may have non-specific symptoms such as cough, chest pain, or hemoptysis, or they may not exhibit any symptoms at all. In these cases, imaging tests may unintentionally reveal unrelated conditions. From a histopathological perspective, PIMT is characterized by a heterogeneous cellular makeup, encompassing lymphocytes, myofibroblasts, plasma cells, and histiocytes, which generally exhibit a fascicular or storiform pattern. The diagnosis is verified using immunohistochemical labeling, molecular research, and histological examination. The cornerstone of treatment is still surgical resection, which has a good prognosis and a low recurrence rate. On the other hand, specific treatments, such as ALK inhibitors, have shown promise for incurable or recurring instances. Even though PIMT usually has a benign history, it is important to comprehend its biological behavior and molecular foundations for precise diagnosis and efficient management. This underscores the need for additional study into the pathophysiology and potential treatments of PIMT. This report presents a case of a 53-year-old female who presented with complaints of breathlessness and chest pain and was diagnosed with the condition accidentally.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238]
- **Diseases:** inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (MONDO:0015798)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 238] {aka ALK1, CD246, NBLST3}
- **Diseases:** hemoptysis (MESH:D006469), cough (MESH:D003371), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Lung (MESH:D008175), PIMT (MESH:D009369), breathlessness (MESH:D004417), chest pain (MESH:D002637)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11298322/full.md

## References

12 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11298322/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11298322