Gastric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour in a young adult.

BACKGROUND

The inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) of the stomach is an extremely rare tumor. The authors present the case report of a patient with primary gastric IMT.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old man presented with a 50-mm tumorous mass on the anterior wall of the middle third of the stomach, detected by -upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and suspected to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration was performed and an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the stomach was confirmed. A laparoscopic wedge resection was performed.

DISCUSSION: A primary gastric inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour is a very rare mesenchymal neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography followed by fine needle aspiration, seems to be a method of choice in the preoperative diagnostic method for submucosal tumors of the stomach. The types of surgical procedures used in the treatment of primary gastric IMTs depend on the localization of the tumor and its size as well as on the general condition of patients. The recurrence rate after resection is about 15-35%, with distant metastases occurring in less than 5% of patients. In the event of a recurrence, re-excision is generally recommended, when possible. Modern biological treatment with significant effects includes the use of ALK inhibitors and other targeted therapy guided by molecular predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

When submucosal tumour of the stomach is identified, the possibility of gastric IMT should be considered.