ALK positive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the pineal region

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 58; no. 9; pp. 981 - 983
• Main Authors: Clarke, A J, Jacques, T S, Galloway, M J, Thom, M, Kitchen, N D, Plant, G T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.09.2005; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2005 Journal of Clinical Pathology
• Subjects: Age; ALK; anaplastic lymphoma kinase; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - enzymology; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Brain Neoplasms - surgery; Case Reports; Endocrine system; Fibroblasts; Histology; Humans; IMT; inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour; inflammatory pseudotumour; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lungs; Lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue - enzymology; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue - surgery; Nervous system; Pathogenesis; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Pineal Gland; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Tumors; Inflammatory pseudotumor; Anatomic pathology
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2004.022947

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs) are an uncommon spindle cell neoplasm with a dense inflammatory infiltrate, usually encountered in children. IMTs of the central nervous system are extremely rare. This report describes the case of an IMT in a 61 year old man, in the pineal region. The tumour was completely excised, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated anaplastic lymphoma kinase 1 expression. There was no tumour recurrence during 18 months of follow up. Our case extends both the age range and sites of occurrence of this rare tumour.