Inflammatory pseudotumor of an orbito-maxillary mass masquerading as a malignancy

ABSTRACT

Objective: To present a case of a benign orbito-maxillary tumor behaving as an invasive, expansive malignancy. Design: Case report Setting: A tertiary care hospital in Metro Manila Patient A 4 1/2-year-old boy with a seven month history of right orbito-maxillary mass, proptosis and epiphora. Result: A series of biopsies were done before a definite diagnosis was made due to inconsistencies in the histopathologic findings, clinical picture, and the radiologic presentation of the case. After diagnosis, appropriate intervention resulted in a dramatic decrease in the size of the mass. At present, the patient is disease-free and asymptomatic. Conclusion: Histopathologic diagnosis of Inflammatory Pseudotumor is difficult and differentiating it from malignant tumors is often a concern for otolaryngologists and pathologists. In spite of an initial malignant biopsy result, the combination of clinical signs and symptoms and radiologic findings of an infiltrative mass lesion, should not discount the possibility of a benign entity such as Inflammatory Pseudotumor for which treatment is conservative. (Author)