Published online Nov 16, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i32.11853
Peer-review started: May 11, 2022
First decision: June 27, 2022
Revised: July 12, 2022
Accepted: August 30, 2022
Article in press: August 30, 2022
Published online: November 16, 2022
Processing time: 181 Days and 1.1 Hours
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the liver (IMTL) is a rare borderline mesenchymal tumor. Neither clinical symptoms nor laboratory tests have absolute specificity for the diagnosis of IMTL, and imaging also lacks obvious specificity. Although there are sporadic reports of recurrence after surgical treatment, surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment.
A 29-year-old man complained of general weakness, slight discomfort in the upper abdomen, with a history of upper respiratory tract infection for 1 wk before admission. Plain and enhanced upper abdominal magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass in liver segments II and III (48 mm × 53 mm). He was treated by laparoscopic left lateral segmentectomy. Postoperative pathological examination with hematoxylin and eosin staining suggested that the mass in liver segments II and III was IMTL. During 21 mo postoperative follow-up, no obvious residual or recurrent lesions were observed.
There is a risk of malignant degeneration in IMTL. The principal choice of treatment is laparoscopic left lateral segmentectomy.
Core tip: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare borderline mesenchymal tumor with myofibroblastic proliferation and varying number of inflammatory cells that can occur in the lungs, stomach, intestines, gallbladder and nervous system. We present a rare case of IMT in the liver (IMTL) and its treatment with laparoscopic left lateral segmentectomy. This was a rare case of IMTL that was difficult to diagnose and treat, which was unresponsive to pharmacological treatment. This case highlights the importance of surgery for IMTL located in segments II and III. Laparoscopic treatment of IMTL is effective and minimally invasive.