Open AccessInflammatory pseudotumor of the liver and spleen diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy
Author(s) -
Tetsu Kawaguchi,
Kiyoshi Mochizuki,
Takashi Kizu,
Masao Miyazaki,
Takayuki Yakushijin,
Shusaku Tsutsui,
Eiichi Morii,
Tetsuo Takehara
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v18.i1.90
Subject(s) - medicine , lesion , inflammatory pseudotumor , biopsy , malignancy , spleen , radiology , liver biopsy , pathology , percutaneous , fibrosis
An inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a relatively rare lesion characterized by chronic infiltration of inflammatory cells and areas of fibrosis. IPTs are difficult to diagnose because of the absence of specific symptoms or of characteristic hematological or radiological findings. In this study, a case of a woman aged over 70 years was reported, who presented with a general malaise lasting more than two months. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a diffusely spread lesion of the liver with a portal vein occlusion and a splenic lesion surrounded by a soft density layer. Since the percutaneous liver biopsy showed findings that suggested an IPT, although the radiological findings did not exclude the possibility of a malignancy, we performed a percutaneous spleen biopsy to enable a more definitive diagnosis. The microscopic findings from the spleen specimen lead us to a diagnosis of IPT involving the liver and spleen. Subsequent steroid pulse therapy was effective, and rapid resolution of the disease was observed.