Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours: where are we now?

BC Gleason, JL Hornick - Journal of clinical pathology, 2008 - jcp.bmj.com
BC Gleason, JL Hornick
Journal of clinical pathology, 2008jcp.bmj.com
Inflammatory pseudotumour is a generic term applied to a variety of neoplastic and non-
neoplastic entities that share a common histological appearance, namely a cytologically
bland spindle cell proliferation with a prominent, usually chronic inflammatory infiltrate. Over
the last two decades, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) has emerged from within
the broad category of inflammatory pseudotumour, with distinctive clinical, pathological and
molecular features. IMT shows a predilection for the visceral soft tissues of children and …
Inflammatory pseudotumour is a generic term applied to a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities that share a common histological appearance, namely a cytologically bland spindle cell proliferation with a prominent, usually chronic inflammatory infiltrate. Over the last two decades, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) has emerged from within the broad category of inflammatory pseudotumour, with distinctive clinical, pathological and molecular features. IMT shows a predilection for the visceral soft tissues of children and adolescents and has a tendency for local recurrence, but only a small risk of distant metastasis. Characteristic histological patterns include the fasciitis-like, compact spindle cell and hypocellular fibrous patterns, which are often seen in combination within the same tumour. Chromosomal translocations leading to activation of the ALK tyrosine kinase can be detected in approximately 50% of IMTs, particularly those arising in young patients. This review will examine the clinical, pathological, and molecular genetic features of IMT and discuss an approach to diagnosis and differential diagnosis.
jcp.bmj.com