An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the breast with ALK overexpression

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Feb 4:2013:bcr0720114474. doi: 10.1136/bcr-07-2011-4474.

Abstract

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs), also known as inflammatory pseudotumours, include a diverse group of lesions characterised by inflammatory cell infiltration and variable fibrotic responses. Their occurrence in the breast is unusual. We present a case of an IMT of the breast in a 46-year-old woman who complained of a breast mass with palpable axillary lymph node. The initial clinical diagnosis was breast cancer, and the patient underwent a conservative excision with apparently negative margins and an axillary lymph node excisional biopsy. A histopathological examination showed the presence of myofibroblastic spindle cells with mixed inflammatory infiltrates, and the pathological diagnosis was IMT. Significantly, the case we present here is unique in showing anaplastic lymphoma kinase 1 (ALK1) overexpression and ALK1 gene amplification in IMT of the breast. Therefore, our case suggests that ALK1 gene amplification in IMT of the breast has important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Breast Diseases / enzymology*
  • Breast Diseases / genetics
  • Breast Diseases / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / enzymology*
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / genetics
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell / pathology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases