Primary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the breast with rapid recurrence and metastasis: A case report

Abstract

Abstract. Primary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the breast is extremely rare; only 19 cases have been reported in the English literature. In the present study, we present a case of IMT in a 56-year-old female patient who was admitted to our hospital due to a mass found in her right breast. Mammogram and ultrasound revealed a well-circumscribed mass and surgery was performed. Histopathologically, the lesion was composed of spindle and inflammatory cells, including plasma cells and lymphocytes. Mitotic figures were not observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for SM-actin, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and vimentin and focal positive for desmin, but negative for NSE, S-100, CD117, CD34, NF, CD21, CD35 and CD68. Thus, we made a diagnosis of IMT and advised regular follow-up. However, the patient had local recurrence and metastasis to the left groin area 3, 7 and 10 months after the initial surgery. Notably, the histopathological characteristics of the recurrent and metastatic foci were similar to those of the initial specimen, but mitotic figures were clearly observed. Thus, we conclude that IMT shows occasionally malignant biological behavior although it is a neoplasm of intermediate biological potential that frequently recurs and rarely metastasizes. We advise that clinical physicians should regularly follow up patients after focal resection for IMT.

ALK-Positive Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Nipple During Pregnancy-An Unusual Presentation of a Rare Disease

“…In two of them, the recurrences were multiple and bilateral behaving as a true metastasising sarcoma . In one case, metastasis to the groin occurred in addition to local recurrence . The size of the tumors ranged from 1 to 8 cm in greatest dimension (mean 2.8 cm).…”

“…IMT of the breast was first reported by Pettinato et al. in 1988 and only 25 such cases have since then been reported in the English literature, none of which involving the nipple (Table ) . Special differential diagnostic problems may arise when IMT is located in the breast.…”

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumour of Thyroid with its Prominent Spindle Cell Pattern: A Rare Case Report

“…Though inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour are usually indolent, few case reports are available suggesting recurrence and malignant counterpart [25].…”

Primary Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors of the Breast with Metastasis: Radiographic and Histopathologic Predictive Factors

“…Distant metastasis of IMTs is rare and occurs in less than 5% of cases, regardless of the site of origin. To date, there has only been one report of a patient with an IMT of the breast that developed distant metastases [ 4 ]. As a result, there are no clear consensus guidelines for the follow-up of patients with IMTs of the breast that are based on the early detection of metastases after complete surgical resection.…”