Oral Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rarely described tumor of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It occurs primarily in the lungs, but has occurred in other extra-pulmonary sites. Histologically these lesions appear as an inflammatory infiltrate within a variably myofibrotic background. Current evidence shows that inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors are neoplastic processes resulting from chromosomal translocations that often cause an overexpression of ALK kinase, which is often assessed using immunohistochemical studies. Currently, the biological behavior of oral inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is still uncertain. This article describes the clinical, histological, and operative features of a case of IMT of the oral cavity.

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplasm consisting of variable numbers of inflammatory cells and myofibroblastic spindle cells. It was first observed in the lung and described by Brunn in 1939 and was so named by Umiker et al. in 1954 because of its clinical and radiological behavior that mimics a malignant process [1]. The most common sites of involvement include the lung, liver and orbit, but it has been reported to occur in nearly every site of the body, including the major salivary glands and the oral cavity [1-4]. It was called inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) until 1998 when the term inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) was proposed as being a more descriptive name [1]. The etiology and pathogenesis of IMT remains unclear. Because it can clinically and radiographically mimic a malignant process, the correct recognition of the lesion is important to avoid unnecessary radical surgery. Herein, we describe the clinicopathologic features of a case of IMT arising in the gingiva.

CASE REPORT

A 40-year old female presented with a several month history of slow growing, painless nodule in anterior maxillary gingiva. The lesion was a well circumscribed, raised sessile nodule, the same color as the surrounding mucosa, in the area between teeth numbers 8 and 9 (Fig. 1). There was no bleeding or exudates in the area. The patient’s medical and social history was non-contributory and she did not take any medications. Radiographic examination was unremarkable. The initial clinical differential diagnosis was pyogenic granuloma, fibroma, peripheral giant cell lesion and peripheral ossifying fibroma.

Fig. (1).

Intraoral photograph at the initial examination. A 15-mm painless nodule was observed on anterior maxillary ginigiva.

The lesion was excised and submitted to the Oral Pathology Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Gross examination of the specimen revealed a tan soft tissue mass, measuring 1.5 x 1.1 x 0.7 cm. Microscopic examination of the soft tissue specimen, using hematoxylin and eosin stain, revealed a mixture predominately composed of inflammatory cells, with scant irregularly arranged fascicular spindle cells mixed with a prevalent plasma cell infiltrate (Fig. 2A, B). The inflammatory infiltrate also contained varying numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages. The background stroma showed focal myxoid and sclerotic foci. Nuclear atypia was not seen. Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for the expression of muscle specific actin (Fig. 2C), anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 (ALK-1) (Fig. 2D), and CD-68 (Fig. 2E).

Fig. (2).

A,B) Low and high power views of the lesion, showing a proliferation spindle cells admixed with numerous chronic inflammatory cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells) in a fibrous and myxoid background (hematoxylin and eosin, original magnification X4 and X20). C) Low power view of the immunohistochemical expression for smooth muscle actin showing positive spindle cells (original magnification X10). D) Immunohistochemical expression of ALK was positive (original magnification X10). E) Immunohistochemical expression of CD-68 showing positivity of histocytes (original magnification X10).

A final diagnosis of IMT was made. There was no evidence of recurrence after four months of follow-up (Fig. 3).

Fig. (3).

Postoperative follow up after four months showing complete healing of the gingiva and no signs of recurrence. Note closure of diastema with veneer.

DISCUSSION

IMT is a tumor lesion consisting of variable numbers of inflammatory cells and myofibroblastic spindle cells [1]. This lesion is rare outside the lung, liver and orbit, with only 22 cases reported in the literature. Liston et al. in 1981 was the first to report IMTs of oral cavity in three children [2]. IMT has been described by various names including inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT), plasma cell granuloma, benign myofibroblastoma, inflammatory fibrosarcoma, histocytoma, xanthomatous granuloma, and spindle cell pseudotumor, describing its heterogeneous nature [2, 3]. Additionally, several histopathologic variants were described by Somersen in 1978 including; xanthogranuloma, plasma cell (plasma cell granuloma), and the sclerosing granulomatous types [5].

The pathogenesis of IMT remains unknown and controversial and recent evidence shows that IMTs may have a different etiology and clinicopathologic features from IPTs in the central nervous system, spleen and lymph nodes [6, 7]. In intraoral lesions, Brooks et al. distinguished the term IMT, which is a neoplastic process from IPT, which is reactive and reparative process [8]. However, hypotheses suggest that the lesion maybe infectious, autoimmune, syndromic or traumatic in origin. Reports suggest that this tumor in the liver maybe associated with inflammatory bowel disease, Papillon-Lefevre syndrome, severe congenital neutropenia (Kostmann’s disease), or leukemia [1, 8-11]. HIV infection has also been associated with this neoplasm in various organs [8, 12]. Interestingly, evidence for a role of Epstein-Barr viruses has been noted in some cases of IMT in liver, spleen and lymph nodes, but the role of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) is not clearly associated [6, 8, 13]. Other organisms found in association with tumor include actinomycetes found in hepatic pseudotumors; or nocardiae and mycoplasma in pulmonary pseudotumors [1].

The terms “inflammatory pseudotumor” and “inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor” were used synonymously in most publications, thus we reviewed all 22 cases diagnosed in the English literature as IPT or IMT including our case (Based on criteria followed by Brooks et al. 2004) Table 1 [2, 4, 5, 8, 14-27]. The most common intraoral site observed was the buccal mucosa, with lesions occurring over a wide age range 2 to 82 years with a mean of 32 years and showing a 1.6:1 female predilection. The lesion typically presents as a firm, indurated swelling and does not produce significant systemic symptoms, unlike its counterpart in visceral organs [2, 3]. Intrabony presentation of IMT is rare. Only three cases have been reported [22, 24, 26]. Brooks et al. described a resorptive effect of soft tissue IMT on the underling alveolar bone of edentulous mandible [8]. A CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging was done in previous reports which characterized lesions with ill-defined infiltrative or erosive bony margins [1, 2, 24].

Table 1.

Clinical Features of IPT and IMT Cases in Oral Cavity

Author	Age (Years)	Gender	Location	Size in cm	Duration	Follow-up
Liston et al., 1981 [5]	4 2 6	F F M	Buccal mucosa Buccal mucosa Buccal mucosa	4x5 3x5 4x5	2 wks 4days 1day	6m; NED 10m; NED NA
Earl et al.; 1993 [14]	44	M	Buccal mucosa	-	-	2yrs; NED
Ramachandra et al.; 1995 [15]	77	F	Buccal mucosa	1.5	5m	28yrs; NED
Shek et al.; 1995 [2]	20 36	M F	Right cheek Left maxilla	2.0 d NA	1month 1 year	13m; NED 13m; NED
Ide et al.; 1998 [4]	68	F	Buccal mucosa	0.5x0.6	Few years	NA
Ide et al.; 2000 [16]	43	F	Retromolar area	1.0x2.3	1m	1yr; NED
Cable et al.; 2000 [17]	29	F	Hard Palate	1.8x1.8	8wks	NA
Ide et al.; 2000 [18]	27	M	Tongue	1.7	4m	NA
Pankaj et al.; 2001 [19]	-	-	Tongue	-	-	NA
Jordan et al.; 2003 [20]	23	M	Mandible	1.0	1m	NA
Fang et al.; 2004 [21]	23	M	Retromolar area and masseter muscle	2.5x4x5	1m	6m; NED
Brooks et al.; 2004 [8]	82	F	Mandible	5.0x5.0	2 months	18m; NED
Poh et al.; 2004 [22]	42	F	Mandible	3.0(diameter)	-	6m; NED
Johann et al.; 2008 [23]	33	M	Mandible	3 x2 x2	-	28m; NED
Oh et al.; 2008 [24]	20	F	Mandible	-	3-4months	22m; NED
Xavier et al.; 2009 [25]	23	F	Floor of mouth	3.0(diameter)	3 wks	2yrs; NED
Eley et al.; 2010 [26]	29	M	Maxilla	5.0 (diameter)	1 month	6 yrs, NED
Satomi et al.; 2010 [27]	14	F	Gingiva	3 x 2	3 months	10 yrs; NED
Present Case	40	F	Gingiva	1.5x1.2	-	4m; NED

NA, not available; NED, no evidence of disease.

Histologically, IMT of the oral cavity presents with a variable admixture of fascicles of myofibroblastic spindle cells mixed with acute and chronic inflammatory cells [2]. Atypical mitoses are rare. The stroma is often myxoid or collagenous with prominent vasculature. The histologic differential diagnosis of IMT is extensive, and includes benign and malignant spindle cell tumors such as nodular fasciitis, solitary fibrous tumor, benign fibrous histocytoma, calcifying fibrous tumor, myofibroma, fibrosarcoma, follicular dendritic cell tumor, and leiomyosarcoma. Histologically, IMTs contain a much more prominent inflammatory infiltrate than nodular fasciitis [13]. Additionally, they lack the “c” shaped fascicles, and mucin-rich stroma which is responsible for the characteristic “tissue culture-like or feathery” appearance in nodular fasciitis [28]. Solitary fibrous tumor was excluded due to the lack of hemangiopericytoma-like areas and strong CD34 immunoreactivity [29]. The diagnosis of benign fibrous histocytoma was not favored because of the lack of characteristic storiform pattern [30]. Calcifying fibrous tumor, a rare benign neoplasm, is uniformly hypocellular and contains scattered dystrophic calcifications [13]. The diagnosis of myofibroma was excluded due to the lack of biphasic growth pattern with hemangiopericytoma-like blood vessels [31].

Fibrosarcoma was excluded due to the lack of malignant features, collagenous areas and herringbone pattern that characterize it. Additionally, it typically lacks a significant inflammatory infiltrate [31, 32]. Follicular dendritic cell tumor is differentiated from IMT by its characteristic distribution of inflammatory infiltrate admixed with dendritic spindle cells. It is easily distinguished by immunohistochemical staining for CD21, CD23 and/or CD35 [2, 8, 33]. If there was a predominant lymphocytic and/or plasmacytic component, a plasma cell neoplasm (plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma) or lymphoma should be excluded. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue–type lymphoma (MALT) may show prominent plasma cell differentiation and should be added to the list of histologic different diagnoses for IMT of salivary glands. No epimyoepithelial islands should be detected, even by immunostaining for cytokeratin, in IMT [1, 34].

In our case, the immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the spindle cells were positive for muscle specific actin, ALK, and histocytes were positive for CD-68. According to the histological and immunohistochemical features of the lesion, a final diagnosis IMT was made.

IMT has shown clonal gene rearrangements of the short arm of chromosome 2, some of which result in an ALK gene rearrangements; such rearrangements are uncommon in adults over 40 years of age with IMT [3, 8, 13]. Lawrence et al. subsequently identified two distinct balanced chromosomal translocations involving the ALK kinase gene. One at chromosome 2p23 and other involving either the tropomyosin 3 gene (TPM3) at chromosomal locus lq21 or the tropomyosin 4 gene (TPM4) at chromosomal locus 19p13.1, resulting in t(1;2) (q21;p23) and t(2;19) (p23;p13.1) translocations, respectively [35]. Other fusion partners of ALK that have been documented in IMT include: cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS), clathrin heavy chain (CLTC), ran-binding protein 2 (RAN-BP2), 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase (ATIC), and SEC31 homolog A (S. cerevisiae) (SEC31L1) [36]. CARS gene has been shown to fuse to ALK with a t(2;11;2)(p23;p15;q31) [37]. Fusion of ALK with CTLC gene localized to 17q23 was detected in two cases of IMT, while ALK-ATIC chimeric fusion was detected in an IMT of urinary bladder [38, 39]. An intra-abdominal IMT with a novel ALK fusion that involved the RANBP2 gene at 2q13 and SEC31L1, lead to a novel SEC31L1/ALK fusion gene, with a translocation t(2;4)(p23;q21) have been reported [40, 41 ]. Frequently, these cytogenetic abnormalities (approximately 50% of IMTs) result in the overexpression of the ALK protein kinase often determined by immunohistochemistry, and aiding in the diagnosis of IMT. Most other myofibroblastic and fibroblastic tumors are negative for ALK [6, 13]. Other features, such as the presence of ganglion-like cells, atypia, p53 expression and aneuploidy may identify patients with IMT and those at high malignant risk [3].

IMTs are tumors with unpredictable clinical behavior, requiring complete surgical excision and continuous monitoring of clinical consequences [1]. Medical management, including corticosteroids are not effective in head and neck lesions, while considered in the management of orbital IMT [1, 3]. There is no evidence of recurrence, malignant transformation, metastasis or death reported with oral IMTs [2]. According to the World Health Organization IMTs are classified as tumors of intermediate biological potential due to a tendency of local recurrence and small risk of distance metastasis [13]. IMT in the oral cavity may be confused with other malignant tumors on clinical, radiographic, and histologic appearance. Therefore, it is important to recognize the distinction among them in order to provide better guidelines for treatment and outcome.