Remission of ALK-negative primary pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor on treatment with clarithromycin: 
A case report and review of the literature

Watanabe,Hidehiro; Uruma,Tomonori; Tazaki,Gen; Tajiri,Takuma; Kikuchi,Ryota; Itoh,Masayuki; Aoshiba,Kazutetsu; Nakamura,Hiroyuki

doi:10.3892/ol.2016.4119

Remission of ALK-negative primary pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor on treatment with clarithromycin: A case report and review of the literature

Authors:
- Hidehiro Watanabe
- Tomonori Uruma
- Gen Tazaki
- Takuma Tajiri
- Ryota Kikuchi
- Masayuki Itoh
- Kazutetsu Aoshiba
- Hiroyuki Nakamura
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Affiliations: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infection Control, Ibaraki Medical Center, Tokyo Medical University, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0395, Japan, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, Tokai University School of Medicine, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0032, Japan, Department of Pathology, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, Tokai University School of Medicine, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0032, Japan
Published online on: January 15, 2016 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2016.4119
Pages: 1757-1761
Copyright: © Watanabe et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) belong to an intermediate group of soft‑tissue tumors, they are relatively rare but exhibit a wide range of pathologies, from benign to malignant. At present, no standard treatment has been established, however, it is known to be important to determine the grade of malignancy of the tumor, prior to treatment. The present study reports a 73‑year‑old female patient with no clinical manifestations, who, when examined radiographically at a health check exhibited bilateral thoracic infiltrative shadows and nodular shadows by chest CT. A metastatic tumor or an organizing pneumonia were suspected. Blood examination showed no abnormal findings, and a pathological diagnosis of IMT was given from the histological findings of the tissue extracted by video‑assisted thoracic surgery. Histological analysis established the lack of expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK1) and immunoglobulin subtype G4 (IgG4). Alteration of the radiological shadows was observed over several weeks, and after concluding that chronic inflammation was worsening the patient's condition, clarithromycin was administered as a long‑term macrolide therapy. The IMT decreased in size, and eight months later it had almost resolved. The patient was last reported to be maintaining a stable condition with no relapse. Some IMT cases have malignant pathology, and should be carefully followed‑up. However, in the present case, where the IMT is both ALK1‑negative and IgG4‑negative, its biological immune responsiveness appears to differ from positive cases, and an inflammatory response was predominant. Clarithromycin, has immunomodulatory and anti‑inflammatory effects and appeared to be effective in treating the IMT of the patient in the present study.

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