Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Tuesday, May 22, 2018 by Ralph Flores

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) are uncommon and possibly non-cancerous tumors that come from cells called myofibroblastic spindle cells. The condition, which affects people of any age, can develop in any part of the body. However, these are usually found in the lung, eye socket, peritoneum, and mesentery.

IMTs tend to recur – on occasion, become locally invasive and spread to other parts of the body.

The reasons for getting IMTs are unclear, but some experts believe it is caused by problems with certain genes.

Known risk factors and symptoms of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

IMTs have no predisposing risk factors.

Symptoms of the condition depend on where the tumor is located. If it is found in the bones, the following could be experienced:

Mild bone pain
Easy fractures
Headaches and dizziness
Numbness in the region affected
Presence of a well-defined tumor, usually in the femur, temporal bone, jaw bone, and other areas.

If the IMT is in the lungs, the following symptoms may occur.

Pain in the chest
Difficulty breathing
Recurrent coughing, sometimes coughing up blood
Fatigue and fevers
Chronic lung infection

Body systems affected by inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

For the most part, IMTs mimic cancer and can cause severe emotional stress in the patient. However, a complication is recurrence after treatment, especially if the IMT is only partially removed.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent or relieve inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

There is currently no information on diets that may treat or prevent IMTs, specifically; however, some herbs and nutrients have been noted to prevent the development of tumors, which could be beneficial at this stage.

Curcumin, found in turmeric has been known to act against tumors in the breast, colon, prostate, and other organs.
Mangosteen contains xanthone which has noted anti-tumor potential.
Fish oil may inhibit tumor growth and induce cell death of potential tumor cells.
Green tea contains polyphenolic compounds that fight various tumors.
Milk thistle has silymarin, known to have anti-tumor action in the bladder and prostate.
Noni, especially its fruit juice, has noni-ppt which acts against tumors.
Reishi mushrooms have been found to prevent the development of tumors in animal studies.

Treatment and management options for inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

The usual route of treatment for IMT is to surgically remove the tumor. If it cannot be removed, medication is found to be useful in addressing the condition. In some cases, these disappear without need for treatment.