Abstract:

A 7 year-old boy presented with cervical lymph node enlargement, fever and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A neck mass measuring 3x2.5x1.5 cms was surgically removed. Histologically, the process showed a proliferation of spindle cells, associated with a mixture of inflammatory cells and small blood vessels involving the connective tissue framework (hilum, trabecula, capsule) of the lymph node. Immunohistochemical analysis showed spindle cells positive for muscle-spesific actin and vimentin, but negative for desmin. Histochemical, Ziehl-Neelsen stain was negative. With these clinical and histopathologic findings a diagnosis of “ inflammatory pseudotumor of lymph nodes” was made. Inflammatory pseudotumor of the lymph nodes is a rare, recently described benign cause of lymphadenopathy. The differential diagnosis includes other reactive processes, Castleman's dissease, malignant lymphoma (Hodgkin's lymphoma, peripheral T cell lymphoma) and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. This case is presented due to its rare occurrence along with areview of literature.

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