RETROPERITONEAL ACTINOMYCOSIS MASQUERADING AS INFLAMMATORY PSEUDOTUMOR

Inflammatory pseudotumors present clinically as mass lesions and micro scopically show a spectrum of nonspecific inflammatory and regenerativ e changes, When the mesentery or retroperitoneum are involved, differe ntiation from inflammatory fibrosarcoma poses a diagnostic problem. Th e authors report on a 7-year-old boy who presented with fever, anemia, weight loss, and a retroperitoneal mass. Needle biopsy results of the mass showed features consistent with inflammatory pseudotumor. Examin ation of the resected mass showed actinomycosis. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.