Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the liver in an elderly woman following a second liver biopsy: a case report

Bol Asoc Med P R. 2011 Apr-Jun;103(2):60-4.

Abstract

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare benign lesion of unknown etiology reported in numerous anatomic sites. Hepatic IMT is rare. It is composed of a dominant spindle cell proliferation with a variable inflammatory component that has unique histological appearance. The tumor is more common in women, who often present with fever of unknown origin or other vague, nonspecific symptoms. A 74-year-old female presented with fever of unknown origin. Abdominal CT-Scan showed focal mass effect with luminal narrowing at the distal sigmoid colon, highly suggestive of a sigmoid neoplasm as well as numerous hypodense lesions scattered throughout the liver, likely representing metastatic disease. Liver biopsy revealed an IMT. Patient was treated conservatively and remained without symptoms. It is extremely difficult to differentiate an IMT from neoplastic disease. Most cases require complete resection to obtain an accurate diagnosis. This entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with hepatic lesions to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anemia / complications
  • Biopsy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / etiology*
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / complications
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / diagnosis*
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / pathology
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Abscess / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases / complications
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Liver Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Diseases / pathology
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Sigmoid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed