Resection of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the upper lobe of the right lung in an adolescent: A case report

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors are rare benign neoplasms that primarily affect the lungs, accounting for approximately 0.7% of all pulmonary mass lesions. Until recently, radical lobectomy was the primary treatment approach, leading to complete recovery. This report describes a successful lung-sparing tumorectomy in a 15-year-old girl with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the right upper lobe, incidentally discovered during a routine chest X-ray. The procedure was performed via posterolateral thoracotomy, pulmonotomy, and mobilization with excision of the tumor extending to the root of the upper lobe. Hemostasis was achieved using the LigaSure electrosurgical system. The edges of the dissected upper lobe lung tissue were reapproximated using a manual suture technique. The operation lasted 90 minutes, with no intraoperative complications, including bleeding or perforation of segmental and subsegmental bronchi. Histological examination initially suggested a perivascular epithelioid cell tumor, but a second review at the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology confirmed the diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. The hospital stay lasted 14 days. One-month postoperative chest computed tomography revealed no signs of recurrence. Lung-sparing tumorectomy was the preferred treatment option in this case, as the tumor exhibited benign features (well-defined margins, no invasion of the bronchial system or adjacent lung tissue). This approach allowed complete tumor removal with preserving healthy lung tissue.