Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumour

Last revised by Joshua Yap on 2 Feb 2023

Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumours (IPT), also known as xanthogranulomas or plasma cell granulomas of the liver, are rare benign hepatic lesions.

Most common in young adults with males affected more than females 7

The aetiology is unknown 7

Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumour is often seen as a well-circumscribed, encapsulated inflammatory mass. 

Hepatic inflammatory pseudotumour is characterised by a large population of polyclonal plasma cells with a variable amount of fibrosis, foamy histiocytes, and other chronic inflammatory cells 2.

Radiological findings of hepatic inflammatory pseudotumour are not characteristic and definitive diagnosis requires needle biopsy (sometimes insufficient 7) or surgery 3.

In most reported cases, they appear as hypoattenuating masses with a variable degree of hepatic enhancement 2

  • T1: hypointense

  • T2: hyperintense

  • T1 C+ (Gd): heterogeneous enhancement 7

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