Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumour of the Submandibular Gland

Abstract

A 77-year-old man presented with a two-month history of a left sided, firm, and non-tender submandibular mass. The patient was systemically well with no history of weight loss or night sweats. On examination, there were no oropharyngeal abnormalities and flexible nasendoscopy was normal. An ultrasound scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed a 2.8 x 2.4 x 4.3cm irregular mass in level I of the neck with a chain of small lymph nodes. Following inconclusive fine needle aspirations (FNA) and a core biopsy, an excision of the submandibular gland was performed. The pathology revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) of the submandibular gland. To complete treatment a selective neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy was performed. IMTs are rare, poorly understood tumours that can occur anywhere in the body. The incidence in the head and neck regions accounts for a small number of all cases. We present a rare case of IMT in the submandibular gland.