Solitary intestinal myofibroma – an unusual cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction

Abstract

Congenital solitary myofibroma is an exceptional tumor of newborn period and presents as solitary or multiple lesions usually confined to soft tissues. It induces intestinal obstruction or perforation, which most frequently involves the jejunum and ileum. However, jejunoileal atresia is the most frequently encountered cause of small bowel obstruction in the neonatal period. We report a new case of solitary myofibroma located in the wall of the ileum, measuring 2×3 cm2 in size, about 25 cm from the ileocecal junction, in a 17-day-old baby girl who presented with abdominal distention and bilious vomiting. Laparotomy was performed on the patient and the tumor was removed; the patient did well after surgery. Despite all the common causes of intestinal obstruction—intestinal atresia, Hirschsprung disease, anorectal anomaly, malrotation, and meconium passage problem in the neonatal period—myofibroma of the small bowel has to be considered because treatment is fairly easy and prognosis is excellent.

A Solitary Intestinal Myofibroma: A Rare Cause of Neonatal Anemia

“…A literature search revealed only 20 other reported cases of a solitary infantile abdominal myofibroma (Table 1 ); however, it is the first case in which anemia is the primary presentation of the underlying disease [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. The typical presentation of an intestinal myofibroma is associated with bowel perforation or obstruction, accompanied by obstructive symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal distention [ 18 ]. Infantile myofibromas are classified into two forms: the single and the multiple form.…”

“…The prognosis of this form is excellent when totally resected. No recurrence or metastasis has been reported [ 15 , 18 ].…”