A case of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the lung which expressed TPM3-ALK gene fusion

• Published in: Pediatric surgery international 2007-06, Vol.23 (6), p.595-599
• Main Authors: Kinoshita, Y, Tajiri, T, Ieiri, S, Nagata, K, Taguchi, T, Suita, S, Yamazaki, K, Yoshino, I, Maehara, Y, Kohashi, K, Yamamoto, H, Oda, Y, Tsuneyoshi, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; Child, Preschool; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue - genetics; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue - pathology; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue - surgery; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion - genetics; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; RNA, Neoplasm - genetics; Tropomyosin - genetics
• ISSN: 0179-0358; 1437-9813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00383-006-1821-6

We herein describe a 4-year-old boy who after being treated for pneumonia showed an abnormal shadow at the hilus of the right lung on chest X-rays with continued inflammatory findings in his laboratory data. CT and MR investigations suggested the existence of a neoplasm at that site. An open biopsy was thus performed for a definite diagnosis. The histological findings and the expression of TPM3-ALK fusion gene confirmed a diagnosis of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. A right upper and middle lobectomy including the tumor was thus performed for a complete resection. In addition to the histological diagnosis, the detection of the tumor specific fusion gene provided objective evidence in making a diagnosis.