title: A case report of inflammatory pseudotumor of carotid artery with radiologic-pathological-surgical findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory pseudotumor is an unusual benign entity that can mimic malignancy in many different organ systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a patient with a neck mass, which clinically and radiologically appeared to be a malignant tumor that encircled a segment of the left common carotid artery. The operation was performed and further histopathological evaluation confirmed this mass to be an inflammatory pseudotumor. After 4 years follow up, no recurrence was observed for this patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite its rarity, IPT is important because it can simulate neoplastic disease. The contrast imaging may be helpful in differential diagnosis, but no findings are characteristic. The diagnosis of the IPT of carotid artery can be challenging for the surgeons. Certain diagnosis depends on either core biopsy or intra- or post-operative pathological examination. The surgical excision may be a curative option.
authors.affiliation: Department of vascular surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China. zheyiyuancn@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of vascular surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China. zhengchengfei@163.com.
authors.forename: Cheng Fei
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China. Wanglingjane@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Berne, 3010, Switzerland. savolainen@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Savolainen
authors.affiliation: Department of vascular surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China. jwsy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China. surgeonlee@126.com.
authors.forename: Jianhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006104:Granuloma, Plasma Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed