Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
07:43

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

Published on: January 17, 2018

Intracranial inflammatory pseudotumor

J E Sitton1, J C Harkin, M A Gerber

  • 1Department of Pathology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.

Clinical Neuropathology
|January 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

An intracranial mass initially diagnosed as a meningioma was found to be an inflammatory pseudotumor. This reactive lesion, composed of plasma cells and lymphocytes, highlights the importance of considering pseudotumors in differential diagnoses.

Area of Science:

  • Neuropathology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Intracranial masses often present diagnostic challenges.
  • Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors, but other lesions can mimic their appearance.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case where an intracranial mass was misdiagnosed as a meningioma.
  • To describe the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of an inflammatory pseudotumor.
  • To emphasize the inclusion of inflammatory pseudotumor in the differential diagnosis of suspected meningiomas.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical and radiological evaluation including computed tomography and angiography.
  • Histopathological examination of the resected intracranial mass.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis to determine cell population characteristics.

Main Results:

  • The intracranial mass, suspected to be a meningioma, was histopathologically identified as an inflammatory pseudotumor.
  • The lesion consisted of mature plasma cells and lymphocytes with germinal centers.
  • Immunohistochemistry confirmed a polyclonal cell population, indicative of a reactive process, not a neoplasm.

Conclusions:

  • Inflammatory pseudotumor can mimic meningioma clinically and radiologically.
  • Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses are essential for differentiating reactive lesions from neoplasms.
  • Consideration of inflammatory pseudotumor in the differential diagnosis of intracranial masses is recommended.

More Related Videos

A Preclinical Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Hemorrhage Contusion and Neuroinflammation06:50

A Preclinical Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Hemorrhage Contusion and Neuroinflammation

Published on: June 10, 2020

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery09:53

Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery

Published on: July 5, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction01:14

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction

Intracranial hypertension is a sustained elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) above 22 mm Hg. In supine adults, normal ICP is ~7–15 mm Hg.The rigid, nonexpandable cranium contains three components—brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—that total ~1,700 mL in a typical adult: 1,400 mL brain (~80%), 150 mL blood (~10%), and 150 mL CSF (~10%). According to the Monro–Kellie doctrine, total intracranial volume is effectively fixed. When one component expands, CSF and venous blood...
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
Cerebral Edema l: Introduction01:19

Cerebral Edema l: Introduction

Cerebral edema is a pathological increase in brain water content that disrupts intracranial pressure regulation and impairs neurological function. Because the cranial vault is rigid, even modest increases in tissue volume can compromise cerebral perfusion, distort neural structures, and initiate secondary injury. Cerebral edema develops through four principal mechanisms: vasogenic, cytotoxic, interstitial, and ionic.Vasogenic EdemaVasogenic edema arises from disruption of the blood–brain...
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...