Alteration of Signal Intensity on Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Spinal Epidural Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) in the spine or paraspinal area is extremely rare. Here, we report a rare case of a 56-year-old man who had pathological-proven spinal epidural IMT showing a malignancy-like infiltrative feature on MR imaging with alteration of T2 signal intensity on follow-up from slightly high to low compared with initial MR imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe paraspinal IMT monitoring with various imaging modalities without treatment. From this case, we were able to gain understanding of the natural course of IMT, and it could be helpful in the differential diagnosis of infiltrative paraspinal masses.