title: Intestinal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMFTs) are rare tumours characterised by nosologic, histogenetic and aetiopathogenetic controversy and variable clinicopathological features. We report our experience with intestinal-IMFTs (I-IMFTs) that have been reported mainly as single case reports to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients with I-IMFTs, identified between 2005 and 2008, formed the study cohort. The clinicopathological features were obtained from departmental and hospital records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median patient age was 13 years. While 4 patients presented with symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction, one IMFT was an incidental finding at laparotomy for trauma. Three I-IMFTs were located in the small bowel and 2 in the colon. Complete resection with end-to-end anastomoses was performed. The gross morphology included 1 polypoid myxoid tumour that served as a lead point for an intussusception, 3 multinodular whorled masses and 1 firm circumferential, infiltrative tumour. Microscopically, all tumours had typical features of IMFT with variable expression of ALK-1, a low proliferation index and tumour-free resection margins. All patients had an uneventful recovery. One patient was lost to further follow-up. Four patients were well, without local recurrence or metastases at 6 months to 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery with tumour-free resection margins is the gold standard of care of adult and paediatric I-IMFTs. Heightened recognition of I-IMFT, albeit rare, as a cause of intestinal obstruction, including intussusception, is necessary for pre-operative suspicion of I-IMFT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ntloko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gounden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Madiba
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ramdial
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Hadley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor