Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the heart in an older woman with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a case report and review of the literature

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) of the heart are rarely observed in the eldly. We report a case involving an elderly woman with an IMT situated on the right atrial wall. The tumor was fully excised. The patient had a smooth recovery post-surgery and remained free of recurrence for three years.

Gastric and cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: an extremely rare case

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a unique, rarely metastatic tumor composed of myofibroblasts and fibrous spindle cells with inflammatory cell infiltration that can affect any organ in the human body. By reviewing the relevant literature on PubMed, we found that this is the first case report of IMT with both gastric and cardiac involvement.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 57-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of malaise, poor appetite, and epigastric pain with black stools. We found a mass in the patient's stomach and left atrium by contrast-enhanced computed tomography, 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and other tests. The patient underwent laparoscopic Billroth II subtotal gastrectomy and Braun's gastrointestinal reconstruction under general anesthesia. On the 46th day following stomach surgery, the cardiac tumor was removed under general anesthesia. The patient has treated with doxorubicin 70 mg of D1 chemotherapy two months after cardiac surgery. Postoperative pathological immunohistochemistry of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of an IMT. His review three months after the cardiac surgery suggested the progression of the left atrial mass, but he declined further treatment and finally died one month after the review.

CONCLUSIONS

As a unique class of tumors that rarely metastasize, IMTs have an unknown etiology and pathogenesis, and distant metastasis is primarily observed in patients with negative activin receptor-like kinase (ALK) expression. The preferred treatment for IMT is complete surgical resection, and the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for patients with distant metastases is still being determined. The clinical presentation of IMT lacks specificity and is often related to the location of tumor growth, which poses a diagnostic challenge. Pathological immunohistochemistry is the only way to confirm the diagnosis at present. Our case report reminds clinicians that a category of ALK-negative IMT with a tendency toward distant metastasis should not be ignored.

Infarction of Paratesticular Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Mimicking Testicular Torsion

This report describes a 14-year-old male with a rare paratesticular inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor that presented atypically with acute unilateral scrotal pain and swelling. This presentation, which raised suspicion for testicular torsion, contrasts with the typical presentation of a slow-growing scrotal mass. Scrotal exploration revealed an infarcted right testis, demonstrating this locally aggressive tumor can undergo vascular invasion and occlude testicular blood supply. Thus, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with acute scrotal pain suspicious for testicular infarction.

Epithelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma With Poor Response to Crizotinib: A Case Report

Introduction

Epithelioid type inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (EIMS) is a subtype of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). It consists of round or epithelioid cells, and almost all types of EIMS contain rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene.

Case presentation

We describe a 20-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain and a rapidly growing intraabdominal mass who underwent surgical tumor resection. She was diagnosed with EIMS. ALK and ki-67 expressions were detected in immunohistochemistry assessment. She was started with Crizotinib 200 mg twice a day, and chemotherapy was also initiated due to the recurrence of the disease 4 months after the initial treatment. She was unresponsive to all the medical regimens and died in 8 months.

Conclusion

Approach to patients with EIMS is really challenging in terms of both diagnosis and treatment. Patients with combined surgical and non-surgical treatment regimen were seen to have a more favorable outcome in some EIMS cases. Therefore, it is essential to implement a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat patients suspicious of EIMS.

Cardiac and Pericardial Neoplasms in Children: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation

Primary cardiac and pericardial neoplasms are rare in the pediatric population and can include both benign and malignant lesions. Rhabdomyomas, teratomas, fibromas, and hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors. The most common primary cardiac malignancies are soft-tissue sarcomas, including undifferentiated sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, and fibrosarcomas. However, metastatic lesions are more common than primary cardiac neoplasms. Children with primary cardiac and pericardial tumors may present with nonspecific cardiovascular symptoms, and their clinical presentation may mimic that of more common nonneoplastic cardiac disease. The diagnosis of cardiac tumors has recently been facilitated using noninvasive cardiac imaging. Echocardiography is generally the first-line modality for evaluation. Cardiac MRI and CT are used for tissue characterization and evaluation of tumor size, extension, and physiologic effect. The varied imaging appearances of primary cardiac neoplasms can be explained by their underlying abnormality. Treatment of these lesions varies from conservative management, with spontaneous regression of some lesions such as rhabdomyomas, to surgical resection, particularly in patients with associated heart failure. With adequate imaging techniques and knowledge of the pathologic basis of the neoplasm, it is often possible to differentiate benign from malignant tumors, which can greatly affect adequate and timely treatment. ©RSNA, 2023 Quiz questions for this article are available through the Online Learning Center.

MR imaging of primary benign cardiac tumors in the pediatric population

Primary cardiac tumors are rare in all ages, especially in children, with a reported prevalence range of 0.0017-0.28% in autopsy series. Due to their rarity, the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways reserved to them are usually described by single case reports, leading to the point where a common diagnostic protocol is imperative to obtain a differential diagnosis. The first diagnostic approach is done with transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), due to its wide availability, low cost, absence of ionizing radiations and non-invasiveness. Several tumors are discovered incidentally and, in many cases, TTE is helpful to determine location, size and anatomical features, playing a key role in the differential diagnosis. In the last few years, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has had an increased role in the diagnostic pathway of pediatric cardiac masses, due to its high accuracy in characterizing mass tissue properties (especially for soft tissue), and in detecting tumor size, extent, pericardial/pleural effusion, leading to the correct diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Therefore, nowadays, several consensus statements consider CMR as a leading imaging technique, thanks to its non-invasive tissue characterization, without the use of ionizing radiation, in an unrestricted field of view. As suggested by the most recent literature, the pediatric protocol is not so different from the adult one, adapted to the size and cardiac frequency of the patient, sometimes requiring special conditions such as free-breathing sequences and/or sedation or general anesthesia in non-cooperating patients.

Superior caval vein syndrome and cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour in an infant

The inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, although very rare, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses in children as it has systemic implications. We present a case of an infant whose diagnosis was suspected on clinical basis and echocardiogram, but the anatomopathological analysis with immunohistochemical study was essential for the conclusion of the histological type and orientation of the clinical follow-up.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pericardium in an 11-month-old infant: A case report

Primary cardiac tumors are very rare in infants. Here we present an 11-month-old infant with a pericardial inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor who presented with symptoms of respiratory distress and cardiac tamponade. The tumor was surgically removed, and the patient received medical treatment; the patient had no problem with follow-up.

Fatal Cardiac Tamponade Due to a Pericardial Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor

The patient was a 34-year-old woman who suddenly collapsed. On arrival, she was in cardiac arrest. Cardiac ultrasound revealed cardiac tamponade; thus, urgent thoracotomy with pericardiotomy was performed. Spontaneous circulation was temporarily obtained; however, her circulation was not stabilized, and she ultimately died. An autopsy revealed a pericardial inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) causing bloody cardiac tamponade. There were no signs of cardiac rupture, myocardial infarction or aortic dissection. We reported the first case of fatal bloody cardiac tamponade due to pericardial IMT in an adult. An autopsy is important for clarifying the etiology in cases of fatal cardiac tamponade of unknown cause.

Pericardial Epithelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma: An Atypical Presentation

Sarcomas are a diverse group of cancers of mesenchymal origin. Epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (EIMS) is an uncommon and hardly reported neoplasm that is a malignant variant of the typically benign inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMS). We discuss an exceedingly rare case of a 53-year-old patient with primary EIMS of the pericardium who presented in impending hemodynamic collapse. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a large circumferential pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology and an echogenic intrapericardial mass compressing the right ventricle to near obliteration. She underwent emergent sternotomy with resection and one cycle of chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin before having recurrent metastatic pericardial and pleural effusions, ultimately leading to her unfortunate passing.

Cardiac tumours in children: a single-centre experience and literature review

Cardiac tumours are extremely rare in children. Although more than 90% are benign, children can develop obstructive or embolisation derived symptoms, arrhythmias, constitutional symptoms, cardiac tamponade, or even sudden death. Although the majority are asymptomatic, and some spontaneously regress, appropriate follow-up is needed on a case-by-case basis, as patients may develop late symptoms. Definitive diagnosis is only possible through histological analysis; however, it is possible to infer tumour type with a high grade of certainty based on imaging features, particularly cardiac magnetic resonance. Surgical resection is advocated for those causing symptoms, obstruction, cardiac dysfunction, and high risk of embolisation. The aim of this review is to present the state of the art related to cardiac tumours in the paediatric population, in the context of our own experience.

A forensic autopsy case: Sudden unexpected death due to cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

We report an autopsy case of a 25-year-old man with no medical history who died suddenly in an Internet cafe. He was found in cardiorespiratory arrest and did not respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Traumatic lesions were not observed on his body. An autopsy was performed to investigate the cause of death. Upon examination, we discovered a heart tumor that infiltrated from the outside wall to the outflow tract of the left ventricle. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction due to a cardiac tumor was considered the mechanism of death. Histological examination identified an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). The final diagnosis was death secondary to circulatory failure due to a cardiac IMT. Additionally, a cardiac tumor was diagnosed using post-mortem computed tomography. Only few cases of sudden unexpected death due to cardiac IMT have been reported; we report this case along with a review of the literature.

A Rare Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Mitral Valve With Systemic Embolism in a Child

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) represent mesenchymal tumors that occur in the lungs, abdomen, or pelvis. Cardiac IMTs are rare, usually right-sided, and when left-sided can cause sudden cardiac death by coronary occlusion. We report a child with symptoms of embolization to the right kidney and the femoral artery, and a mobile mass in the left atrium attached to the mitral valve. Upon surgical removal, histopathology revealed IMT. Our case illustrates a unique presentation of systemic thromboembolism.

Case Report: Unusual Clinical Presentation of a Rare Cardiac Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor in Children: The Differential Diagnosis With Pediatric Emergencies

Introduction: There are still no guidelines about pediatric cardiac cancers. The purpose of this work is to provide new scientific data facilitating the differential diagnosis of a rare cardiac tumor with an unusual presentation, such as the cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). Case Presentation: A 3-year-old male child presented with several symptoms including unconsciousness, vomiting, and drowsiness. A clinical and neurological examination revealed a unilateral (right) motor delay and positive unilateral Babinski sign. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was normal. Diagnostic Assessment: The total body computed tomography (CT) scans showed hypodensity in the left temporal-parietal lobe, a large hypodense area in the right frontal lobe, and a second area in the left frontal lobe were found with head CT. A magnetic resonance (MR) also noted cerebral areas of hypointensity. The echocardiographic images revealed an ovoid mass, adherent to the anterolateral papillary muscle. The histological exams, performed with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, Alcian blue PAS, Weigert and Van-Gieson stain, allowed observing the microscopic structure of the neoplastic mass. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed through subsequent antibodies: anti-vimentin, anti-actina, anti-ALK, anti-CD8, anti-CD3, anti-CD20, anti-kappa and lambda chains, and anti CD68 antibodies. The healthcare professionals diagnosed a cardiac IMT with brain embolism. Differential Diagnosis: The ventricular localization, observed through radiological exams, required a differential diagnosis with fibroma and rhabdomyoma, the presence of brain embolism with sarcoma, and its morphology with fibroma. Neurological symptoms might be attributed to encephalitis, primitive cerebral cancer, such as astrocytoma or neuroblastoma, cerebral metastases due to any malignancy, or embolic stroke. Conclusion: New studies are encouraged to better define IMT behavior and draw up guidelines confirming the crucial role of multidisciplinary approach and treatment protocol selected on the basis of the characteristics of the tumors, in the case of this rare type of cancer.

Intrapericardial inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour in a 3-month-old infant associated with Coronavirus OC43 presenting with pericardial tamponade

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour usually has a benign course and is very rarely associated with the heart. It can have life-threatening consequences, depending on its position or the presence of aggressive and metastatic complications. A 3-month-old boy presented with pericardial tamponade and was diagnosed with intrapericardial inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour associated with Coronavirus OC43. A large tumour attached to the left ventricle was completely removed by surgical resection and he made a full recovery.

ABBREVIATIONS

ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase; CMV: cytomegalovirus; CRP: C-reactive protein; EB: Epstein-Barr virus; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IM: inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour; NSAI: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PTFE: polytetrafluoroethylene; SMA: smooth muscle actin.

Echocardiographic Findings in Children with Native Mitral Valve Masses Complicated by Systemic Embolization

• Case of mitral valve IMT with embolization. • Case of Streptococcus pneumoniae mitral valve endocarditis with embolization. • Use of 2D and 3D echocardiography for management of mitral valve masses.

Cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in interventricular septum: A rare case report

RATIONALE

Cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare primary cardiac tumor which is currently considered as a low-grade neoplasm. The tumor has a predilection in infants and adolescents and primarily occurs as an endocardial-based cavitary mass. However, cardiac IMT that only involves the interventricular septum in middle-aged adults is extremely rarely reported. Considering its infrequency, we report a rare clinical case, with the aim of sharing our experience during the diagnostic procedures.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 45-year-old, previously healthy female, with no medical history was admitted to the outpatient clinic due to the identification of an abnormal radiographic finding during a routine health examination.

DIAGNOSIS

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a 3.5 cm × 4.0 cm × 4.5 cm heterogeneous mass in the interventricular septum. Color Doppler echocardiography detected sparse blood flow signals inside the mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed a hyperintense T2-weighted, isointense T1-weighted mass. Three-dimensional (3D) TTE demonstrated a spherical mass in the middle part of the interventricular septum. Postoperative histopathological examinations revealed a mesenchymal tumor composed of scattered spindle myofibroblasts with a myxoid atypia, associated with infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells.

INTERVENTIONS

Complete tumor resection was successfully performed via median sternotomy under general anesthesia.

OUTCOMES

After surgery, the patient recovered successfully. The patient was in good general health without any clinical symptoms. The echocardiographic examination at the 12-month follow-up period revealed normal function of the heart, and there was no evidence of tumor recurrence.

LESSONS

To our knowledge, cardiac IMT only the involving interventricular septum in a middle-aged adult has never been previously reported before. Echocardiography plays a critical role in establishing the primary diagnosis of cardiac IMT and evaluating regular follow-up examinations. Complete surgical resection of the mass is considered the first-line treatment despite the absence of symptoms.

Small Intestinal Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Metastasis in the Left Ventricle

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare and usually appear in childhood and adolescence. These tumors often take a benign course, but tend to reoccur in a quarter of cases and metastasize locally. Distant IMT metastases are extremely uncommon. To our knowledge, metastatic spread to the heart has not been reported. We present a case of a 43-year-old woman with small intestinal IMT metastatic spread to the cavity of the left ventricle, stomach, liver, vertebra, and pelvic bones. The cardiac tumor was resected, and the patient survived for 9 months. She dies because the progression of IMT at other sites.

Myocardial Infarction Secondary to Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Obstruction of the Left Main: Treated With Primary PCI

Introduction

Cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare tumor that can cause potentially fatal outcomes.

Case Presentation

We describe a case where the tumor originated on the mitral valve and extended through the left ventricular outflow tract and aortic valve and into the left main artery obstructing it. Due to the hemodynamic instability of the patient, we proceeded for cardiac catheterization with the intention to aspirate the mass but were forced to do percutaneous intervention to stabilize the patient and bridge him to surgery.

Conclusions

The patient underwent surgery several days later with complete resection of the tumor and coronary stent retrieval but his left ventricular ejection fraction remained poor after several months and he was referred for cardiac transplantation.