RESUMO
OBJECTIVE Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor(IMT) is a rare lesion of unknown etiology which was first described in the lung. The clinical and pathologic characteristics,treatment, prognosis of IMT in head and neck were discussed. METHODS The clinical data of 4 cases of IMT were analyzed retrospectively. The specimens of the 4 cases were prepared for immunohistochemical staining and light microscopy. RESULTS The patients included 3 males and 1 female. Their age ranged from 32 to 58 years. The tumors located at the true vocal cord in 2 cases, at the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus in 1 case, at the maxillary sinus in 1 case. Histological examination was found that the tumors consisted of spindle cells,chronic inflammatory cells and myxoid background with delicate vasculature. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the SMActin and Vimentin were expressed positively in the tumor. The patients were followed up for 9 to 21 months after operation. Three patients were alive with no evidence of diseases, one patients recurred at 4 months after operation and were alive with IMT. CONCLUSION IMT is a true neoplasm with a potential of local recurrence. The main treatment of IMT is to resect the lesions thoroughly.