Sclerosing inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the tongue: An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Abstract

A case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) arising in the tongue of a 27-year-old man is described. The patient presented with a solitary, well-circumscribed submucosal mass of 4 months duration. The tumour showed in its largest part a paucicellular sclerosing lesion resembling a hyalinizing granuloma surrounded by a thin rim of an admixture of myofibroblasts, plasma cells and foamy histiocytes. Myofibroblasts expressed vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin positive immunophenotypes. Ultrastructurally the hyaline areas were composed of abundant collagen fibres with sparse myofibroblasts. Extensive scar-like change in this IMT may be related to a traumatic insult. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.