A pediatric tuberculosis with recurrent fever confirmed to be inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

Abstract

Background: Symptoms of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) are atypical, and histopathological misdiagnosis of IMT is still inevitable. Here we present a pediatric case that an eight-year-old boy with recurrent fever for fifteen months, received anti-tuberculosis therapy for six months and was ultimately confirmed to be abdominal IMT. Case presentation: An eight-year-old boy had a recurrent fever for 15 months, accompanied by cough, vomiting, meteorism, night sweating, and emaciation. The histopathological characteristic of intestinal and greater omentum implied fibrous tissue hyperplasia, with eosinophil and lymphocyte infiltration. The patient was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and symptoms were relieved partially after anti-tuberculosis treatment. Four months later, the symptoms aggravated again and histopathology of the second sample of greater omentum revealed IMT. Eventually, the patient recovered well after receiving regular chemotherapy. Conclusions: The clinical course of IMT is variable, and pediatricians should pay attention to distinguishing IMT from tuberculosis.