Spinal intradural extra-arachnoid inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT): Case report and review of the literature

In recent years, molecular genetics studies have highlighted the pathogenesis of IMT, more and more studies have been conducted to explore ALK gene. Literaturelly, the expression of ALK gene in IMT is very rare in central nervous system, while is relative common in noncentral nervous system. The present case is the first reported patient with spinal intradural extra-arachnoid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor (IMT) with overexpressed ALK1. Preoperatively, the case was initially diagnosed as spinal lymphoma. ALK abnormalities was determined by immunohistochemistry and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH). Spinal IMT has no definite features either clinically or in the imaging manifestations. The disease should be considered when excluding other possible disease.