Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Spleen Associated with Autoimmune Thyroiditis / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a benign disease entity, which is histologically composed of inflammatory cells and fibrotic stroma. It is mainly found in the respiratory tract, but it has also been reported in the liver, central nervous system, soft tissues, urological system, and gastrointestinal tract. It is extremely rare in the spleen and there have been no cases of splenic inflammatory pseudotumor associated with autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea. The pathogenesis or etiology is unknown, but hypotheses include infection, autoimmunity, and parenchymal necrosis with hemorrhage. Because inflammatory pseudotumor may mimic malignant tumors on radiologic findings, pathologic confirmation is necessary to distinguish it from lymphoproliferative disorders of the spleen and other malignant tumors. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen associated with autoimmune thyroiditis in a patient who complained of periumbilical pain.