Complete resection of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors has excellent long-term prognosis

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the lung

Inflammatory pseudotumours of the lung are extremely rare. Their pathogenesis is controversial, their diagnosis is often difficult and their clinical behaviour may be unpredictable - ranging from benign to locally invasive, to metastatic in spite of an apparently 'benign' histology. A patient who presented with multiple recurrent lesions in the contralateral lung almost two years after the resection of a large primary tumour of the left upper lobe is reported.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the lung: a benign lesion with aggressive behavior

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare solid tumor that most often affects children and young adults. They present as myofibroblastic cell proliferations accompanied by inflammatory cells made up mostly of plasma cells. Although benign, the tumor may be very aggressive locally. In this report we describe a 22-year-old woman with primary invasive myofibroblastic tumor of the left lower lobe leading to a left pneumonectomy.

Left main bronchus resection and reconstruction. A single institution experience

Background

Left main bronchus resection and reconstruction (LMBRR) is a complex surgical procedure indicated for management of inflammatory, benign and low grade malignant lesions. Its application provides maximal parenchymal sparing.

Methods

Out of 98 bronchoplastic procedures performed at the Authors' Institution in the 1995-2011 period, 4 were LMBRR. Indications were bronchial carcinoid in 2 cases, inflammatory pseudotumor in 1 case, TBC stricture in 1 case. All patients underwent preoperatively a rigid bronchoscopy to restore the airway lumen patency. At surgery a negative resection margin was confirmed by frozen section in the neoplastic patients. In all patients an end-to-end bronchial anastomosis was constructed according to Grillo.

Results

There were neither mortality nor major complications. Airway lumen was optimal in 3 patients, good in 1.

Conclusion

LMBRR is a valuable option for the thoracic surgeon. It maximizes the parenchyma-sparing philosophy, broadening the spectrum of potential candidates for cure. It remains a technically demanding procedure, to be carried out by an experienced surgical team. Correct surgical planning affords excellent results, both in the short and long term.

Two types of presentation of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors

Inflammatory pseudotumors are a relatively uncommon pathology of uncertain etiology, generally considered to be reactive in origin. They may be observed in different locations as single or multiple masses. One of the possible forms of presentation is intrapulmonary. Despite its low frequency, this pathology should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lung nodules, even though the histologic results and the imaging tests can become confusing. In addition, pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors present a low malignancy with good response to surgical treatment as well as to pharmacological therapy, although to a lesser degree. We present a bibliographic review of this pathology based on two cases observed in our hospital. Both patients debuted with non-specific respiratory symptoms and lung nodules on imaging studies that were suspicious for neoplastic processes. After an exhaustive study, the diagnosis of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor was reached, with excellent responses to the treatment used in each case.

Surgery for recurrent inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung

BACKGROUND

Cases of recurrent inflammatory pseudotumor have only rarely been reported. The treatment for recurrent pseudotumor is surgery. Patients not eligible for surgery require different treatment, and the optimal type of the treatment is controversial.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 54-year-old woman was noted to have an abnormal shadow in the right middle lung field on chest X-ray. Computed tomography of the chest revealed an infiltrative lesion in the right segment 4 and a nodule in the right segment 8. She underwent right middle lobectomy and partial resection of the right segment 8. Histopathology revealed non-atypical lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrates, leading to the diagnosis of the lymphoplasmacytic type of inflammatory pseudotumor. During postoperative follow-up, chest computed tomography revealed a nodular lesion in the left segment 3 and an infiltrative lesion in the right segment 2. Left segment 3 segmentectomy and right segment 2 wedge resection were performed. The histopathological findings were similar to those of the first surgical specimen, leading to the diagnosis of recurrent lymphoplasmacytic type of inflammatory pseudotumor.

CONCLUSION

Surgical cases of recurrent inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung have been reported only very rarely. We believe that surgery is the best treatment for recurrent inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung when patients are eligible.

[Inflammatory pseudotumor in a five-year-old girl]

Inflammatory pseudotumor is the most common primary lung mass in children. In many cases, it mimics organizing pneumonia on imaging tests. Another site often affected by inflammatory pseudotumors is the orbit, although they can be found in any part of the body. Inflammatory pseudotumors are rare and quasi-neoplastic, as radiologically and clinically they behave like malignant tumors. Consensus about their pathogenesis, natural history, imaging findings, and treatment options has yet to be reached.

[Guidelines for management of localized inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours in children]

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

The paediatric rare tumours group from the Société française des cancers de l'enfant makes syntheses and guidelines for diagnosis and treatment for localized paediatric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours according to international articles.

MAIN UPDATING

All ages are concerning. Localizations are ubiquitous, more frequently in the superior and inferior airway. Histology showed a majority of fusiform cells, corresponding to myofibroblastic cells and an inflammatory infiltrate. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour diagnosis should only be confirmed in the absence of sarcoma molecular markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinction between inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour and sarcoma is essential due to the different care. The curative treatment of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour consists on surgery with before or after corticotherapy. In case of unresectability, chemotherapy may be helpful to avoid mutilating surgery.

Surgical management of endobronchial inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors

BACKGROUND

Endobronchial myofibroblastic tumors are neoplasms composed of clonal populations of smooth muscle cells and a variable lymphocytic inflammatory component. They represent a challenge with respect to diagnosis, classification, and surgical resection due to their infrequent occurrence.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our experience with patients who had myofibroblastic tumors in the major airways over a 15-year period, in order to understand the incidence, natural biology, treatment, and long-term outcome of individuals with this type of neoplasm in an endobronchial location.

RESULTS

Between 1995 and 2010, 11 patients (9 female, 2 male) underwent surgical resection of a myofibroblastic tumor arising within the tracheobronchial tree. The mean age was 39.6 years (range, 22.3 to 53.6 years). All patients were symptomatic, with cough and dyspnea as the most common presenting complaints. Rigid bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsy was utilized to establish the diagnosis in 9 of 11 patients. Laser-mechanical debulking was performed to relieve airway obstruction prior to operation in 10 of 11 patients. Because of wide submucosal infiltration of the neoplasms, surgical resection for complete removal was required for all individuals. Tracheal resection was performed in 3 patients, carinal resection in 1 patient, mainstem bronchial resection in 2 patients, sleeve resection in 3 patients, bilobectomy in 1 patient, and right lower lobectomy in 1 patient. Resection with tumor-free margins was accomplished in all patients. Mean tumor size was 2.3 cm (range, 1.5 to 3.5 cm). There were no operative deaths, with all patients alive and disease-free at a mean of 6.1 ± 3.7 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete surgical resection of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors presenting in a major airway is safe and leads to excellent survival for patients with this uncommon disease.

Surgical management of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors: a single center experience

Background

The pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor (PIP) is a rare disease. It is still debated whether it represents an inflammatory lesion characterized by uncontrolled cell growth or a true neoplasm. PIP is characterized by a cellular polymorphism.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 8 patients with PIP treated by surgery between 2001 and 2009. Preoperative thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan was performed in all cases. All patients underwent preoperative bronchoscopy with washing and brushing and/or transbronchial biopsy and preoperative cytology examination

Results

There were 5 men and 3 women, aged between 38 and 69 years (mean of 58 years). 3 patients (37%) were asymptomatic. The others had symptoms characterized by chest pain, shortness of breath and persistent cough or hemoptysis. 5 patients had neutrophilic leucocytosis. CT scan demonstrated solitary nodules (maximum diameter <3 cm) in 5 patients (62%) and lung masses (maximum diameter >3 cm) in 3 patients (37%). In 2 patients there were signs of pleural infiltration. Distant lesions were excluded in all cases. A preoperative histology examination failed to reach a definitive diagnosis in all patients. At surgery, we performed two lobectomies, one segmentectomy and five wedge resections, these being performed with videothoracoscopy (VATS), except for one patient where open surgery was used. Complete tumor resection was obtained in all patients. According to the Matsubara classification, there were 2 cases of organizing pneumonia, 5 cases of fibrous histiocytoma and one case of lymphoplasmacytoma. All patients were discharged alive from hospital between 4 and 7 days after surgery. At follow-up CT scan performed annually (range 11 to 112 months) (mean 58 months), there were no residual lesions, neither local nor distant recurrences.

Conclusions

PIP is a rare disease. Many synonyms have been used for this disease, usually in relation to the most represented cell type. The true incidence is unclear. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult to reach, despite performing a bronchoscopy or a transparietal needle aspiration. Different classifications have been proposed for PIP. Either medical, radiation or surgical therapy has been used for PIP. Whenever possible, surgery should be considered the standard treatment. Complete surgical resection is advocated to prevent recurrence.

"Atypical steroid response" in a pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

A 6-year-old girl was evaluated for the presence of a paratracheal mass with right upper lobe atelectasis due to an endobronchial mass. Bronchoscopic biopsy established a diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) and prednisone initially led to a significant reduction of the endobronchial lesion. However, 8 weeks later, when still on prednisone, the mediastinal mass enlarged dramatically. At thoracotomy, a well-circumscribed, multilobulated mass was partially resected and a diagnosis of IMT confirmed. Immunosuppression by corticosteroids may have favored the rapid progression of this apparently benign, indolent tumor.

Surgical treatment of a rare case of tracheal inflammatory pseudotumor in pediatric age

Tracheal inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a rare solid lesion with an unpredictable biological course. Treatment can vary and surgical resection may sometimes be necessary, even in pediatric age. We report the case of a 12-year-old male patient who presented to our institution with sudden dyspnoea after some months of wheezing and cough, wrongly considered and treated as asthma. Neck-chest CT-scan and fiberbronchoscopy showed an intraluminal tracheal mass, originating from the left antero-lateral wall at the level of the 5th cartilagineous tracheal ring, involving three rings, that was removed by rigid bronchoscopy. Histopathology revealed a tracheal IPT. Due to rapid tendency to recurrence of the lesion, two more endoscopic recanalizations were performed, but a new recurrence appeared, with CT evidence of transmural involvement of the tracheal wall. Resection of the three involved tracheal rings and termino-terminal tracheal anastomosis were successfully performed through cervicotomy and sternal split. CT-scan and fiberbronchoscopy at 17 months from surgery show a stable tracheal lumen without signs of recurrence. A tracheal IPT should be suspected in any pediatric patients with tracheal mass and asthmatic symptoms. After radical removal prognosis is generally excellent and recurrences after tracheal resection are rare.