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Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CARS-ALK fusion: Case report and literature review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McCollum, KJ; Jour, G; Al-Rohil, RN
Published in: J Cutan Pathol
September 2022

Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) constitute a rare entity, generating a diagnostic pitfall when diagnosing spindle cell proliferation within the dermis. Raising awareness of this tumor among dermatopathologists remains vital in differentiating it from common cutaneous tumors such as fibrous histiocytoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, melanoma, poorly differentiated carcinoma, and other more aggressive tumors. Accurate diagnosis of IMT aids in ensuring appropriate management and follow-up for patients while preventing unnecessary harm and overtreatment. Here we report a case of a 38-year-old female with a painless, slow-growing nodule of the left posterior scalp initially diagnosed as a dermatofibroma. The histopathological examination revealed an ill-defined dermal nodule of spindled cells without connection or infiltration of the epidermis. At high power, the cells were arranged in fascicles with a prominent background of lymphocytic infiltrate. Immunohistochemical analysis showed strong diffuse immunoreactivity for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and targeted RNA sequencing identified a CARS-ALK fusion ultimately confirming the accurate diagnosis of a cutaneous IMT.

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Published In

J Cutan Pathol

DOI

EISSN

1600-0560

Publication Date

September 2022

Volume

49

Issue

9

Start / End Page

795 / 801

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell
  • Gene Fusion
  • Female
  • Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Adult
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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McCollum, K. J., Jour, G., & Al-Rohil, R. N. (2022). Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CARS-ALK fusion: Case report and literature review. J Cutan Pathol, 49(9), 795–801. https://doi.org/10.1111/cup.14261
McCollum, Kasey J., George Jour, and Rami N. Al-Rohil. “Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CARS-ALK fusion: Case report and literature review.J Cutan Pathol 49, no. 9 (September 2022): 795–801. https://doi.org/10.1111/cup.14261.
McCollum KJ, Jour G, Al-Rohil RN. Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CARS-ALK fusion: Case report and literature review. J Cutan Pathol. 2022 Sep;49(9):795–801.
McCollum, Kasey J., et al. “Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CARS-ALK fusion: Case report and literature review.J Cutan Pathol, vol. 49, no. 9, Sept. 2022, pp. 795–801. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/cup.14261.
McCollum KJ, Jour G, Al-Rohil RN. Cutaneous inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CARS-ALK fusion: Case report and literature review. J Cutan Pathol. 2022 Sep;49(9):795–801.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Cutan Pathol

DOI

EISSN

1600-0560

Publication Date

September 2022

Volume

49

Issue

9

Start / End Page

795 / 801

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Granuloma, Plasma Cell
  • Gene Fusion
  • Female
  • Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Adult
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences