Primary epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma of the brain with fusion mimicking intra-axial glioma: a case report and brief literature review

Abstract

An aggressive subtype of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma occurs primarily inside the abdominal cavity, followed by a pulmonary localization. Most harbor anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements, with RANBP2 and RRBP1 among the well-documented fusion partners. We report the second case of primary epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma of the brain, with a well-known EML4::ALK fusion. The case is notable for its intra-axial presentation that clinico-radiologically mimicked glioma.

Keywords

• epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma
• brain
• anaplastic lymphoma kinase
• inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor
• literature review