title: Inflammatory pseudotumor of lymph nodes presenting as pyrexia of unknown origin.
abstract: Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is an uncommon benign disorder characterized by proliferation of spindle cells, inflammatory cells, and small vessels. The IPT of lymph nodes is a rare cause of lymphadenopathy that usually affects one or two nodal groups. We describe a 27-year-old male presenting with generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and fever for 1 year. Histologic examination of lymph node revealed few remnant lymphoid aggregates with marked sclerosis and numerous anastomosing blood vessels in lymph node parenchyma. Interspersed in between the fibrotic bands was a polymorphic infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and immunoblasts. Also, many histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells some being Langhan's type and at places forming ill-defined granulomas were observed. The presence of granulomas and Langhan's type of giant cells can lead to a misdiagnosis of tuberculosis as was also done in the present case. It is thus not only important to be aware of this rare benign pathologic entity while dealing with a case of lymphadenopathy, but also consider it in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India. hannigulwani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gulwani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chopra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005334:Fever; D006104:Granuloma, Plasma Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006529:Hepatomegaly; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases; D008297:Male; D013163:Splenomegaly; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis