Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the central airways: treatment and molecular analysis

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) are a rare cause of endobronchial masses in adults. Surgery has been the main stay of treatment of endobronchial IMTs, based on the potential for recurrence. Interventional pulmonology has emerged as a minimally invasive and lung function preserving modality in management of airway obstruction due to tumors. We present a series of 3 adult patients with IMT treated endo-bronchially with a short discussion on its potential role. We also discuss how molecular analysis of IMTs for mutations in genes such as ALK and ROS1 might provide insights into clinical behavior and potential targetable therapy in advanced, unresectable and metastatic cases.