Pseudolymphoma of the liver: Report of a case and review of the literature

Asian J Surg. 2017 Jan;40(1):74-80. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2013.07.013. Epub 2013 Aug 23.

Abstract

We report a case of pseudolymphoma of the liver in a 49-year-old woman without an underlying disease except for liver hemangioma. A 20-mm nodule was incidentally found in segment 2 of the liver by abdominal ultrasonography during a regular follow-up of the hepatic hemangioma. After a series of radiological examinations, a left lateral sectionectomy was performed because malignant hepatic tumor could not be excluded. The patient was discharged uneventfully 7 days after the operation. The pathology examination revealed a pseudolymphoma. No recurrence of the tumor was found 5½ years after the operation. To the best of our knowledge, only 46 cases of pseudolymphoma of the liver have been reported to date. A review of the literature showed that pseudolymphomas occur predominantly in females (89.4%), usually occur as a single tumor (80.4%), are no more than 20 mm in size (90.6%), and are frequently associated with either autoimmune disease or chronic liver disease. Because an accurate diagnosis is difficult to establish, vigilant follow-up is indicated, and surgical intervention is the choice of treatment once the suspiciousness of malignancy has been raised.

Keywords: computed tomography; liver; magnetic resonance imaging; pseudolymphoma; reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Liver Diseases / pathology
  • Liver Diseases / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Pseudolymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Pseudolymphoma / pathology
  • Pseudolymphoma / surgery