Asymptomatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the heart: immunohistochemical profile, differential diagnosis, and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an uncommon lesion, mainly occurring in children and young adults and extremely rare in the heart. IMTs are composed of differentiated myofibroblastic cells accompanied by inflammatory cells. Cardiac IMTs are considered biologically benign, but they may have fatal consequences depending upon the peculiarity of site. Because of their rarity in the heart, most knowledge is based on extracardiac lesions that have uncertain behaviour.


RESULTS
We investigated the morphologic features and the immunohistochemical profile of an intracardiac IMT, arising in the right outflow tract of an asymptomatic 11-month-old boy, by using a large panel of antibodies, many of them previously reported in extracardiac IMTs only. Results were compared with data of literature. After complete surgical excision of the tumor, the patient is disease-free at 1 year of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The present case showed morphologic and immunohistochemical features characteristic of IMT. Immunohistochemistry was helpful for characterization and differential diagnosis. The immunoreactivity pattern (including calponin expression) was similar to that of extracardiac IMTs except for anaplastic lymphoma kinase 1 immunoreactivity, lacking in this benign intracardiac IMT but usually associated to favourable prognosis in extracardiac IMTs.
Pucci
Angela
A
Department of Pathology, Regina Margherita Hospital, ASO OIRM-S Anna, Turin, Italy. angelapucci@libero.it
Valori
Andrea
A
Muscio
Maruska
M
Garofalo
Luca
L
Ferroni
Francesca
F
Abbruzzese
Pietro Angelo
PA
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor