Systemic inflammatory pseudotumor, an unusual cause of fever of unknown origin mimicking a malignant lymphomatous process: case-report and review of the literature

Background and Objectives, In recent years, a new pathologic condition - ca lled Inflammatory pseudotumor - has been occasionally described to Involve many different tissues or organs. However, evidence for systemic involvemen t is lacking and a review of the topic potentially useful, also considering the clinical features mimicking hematologic malignancies or other clinical ly relevant conditions. We report a case of systemic inflammatory pseudotum or and review the literature concerning the etiopathogenesis, differential diagnosis and treatment modalities of this particular pathology., Data Sources and Methods. The data source for this topic was MEDLINE(R), se arching all fields for inflammatory pseudotumor, inflammatory pseudotumor a nd lymph node or fever of unknown origin, pertaining to humans, published b etween 1970 and 1999, Results and Conclusions. Inflammatory pseudotumor should be considered in t he differential diagnosis of malignant hematologic processes and of fever o f unknown origin. (C) 2000, Ferrata Storti Foundation.