Minimally invasive surgery for inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the urinary bladder: Three case reports

RATIONALE: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors of the urinary bladder (IMTUB) is exceptionally rare. Currently, no standardized treatment has been established for IMTUBs. PATIENT CONCERNS: Herein we report three cases presenting with hematuria and anemia. A 25-year-old man experienced painless gross hematuria for 2 days and the hemoglobin level continuously dropped to 88 g/L; a 72-year-old man complaining of gross hematuria for seven days; and a 33-year-old woman presenting with gross hematuria, urgency, and frequency for the duration of 20 days, with a hemoglobin level of 61 g/L. DIAGNOSIS: Ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance image (MRI) indicated masses of different sizes on the walls of the urinary bladders. Diagnostic transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) was performed which revealed the diagnosis of IMTUB. INTERVENTIONS: In our cases, we removed the tumors completely with a minimally invasive approach. The first patient received TURBT only. The other patients underwent further laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic partial cystectomy respectively for the incomplete resection of tumor by diagnostic TURBT. OUTCOMES: Histology of the resected specimen had proliferation of spindle cells with inflammation consistent with IMTUB. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were positive for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), Vimentin and Ki-67 (20%–40%), negative for smooth muscle actin (SMA), S-100 and desmin confirming the diagnosis of IMTUB. Follow-up cystoscopy and CT or MRI (mean follow-up period: two years) did not detect any local recurrence or distant metastasis. LESSONS: Bladder-sparing treatment by TURBT or partial cystectomy remains the main mode of treatment for IMTUB. Laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic approach is safe and may yield satisfactory oncological and functional results. Regular follow-up protocol is necessary after operation.