Inflammatory pseudo-tumour of the colon mimicking acute appendicitis: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory pseudo-tumour (IPT) of the colon is a rare entity with an obscure pathophysiology and largely indeterminate aetiology.

Presentation of case: A young male patient presented with an Alvarado score of 9/10 and was admitted for appendectomy. An irregular hepatic flexure mass was discovered intraoperatively. The patient underwent an oncological right hemicolectomy with lymphadenectomy under the supposition that it was malignant and recovered with no short or long-term repercussions. Haemoxylin and eosin staining of the mass revealed features of a benign IPT.

Discussion: IPTs have clinical and radiological features that may be indistinguishable from those of malignancies, often resulting in extensive oncological resections despite recurrence and malignant transformation being negligibly rare.

Conclusion: Benign pathologies such as IPT that mimic malignancy can sometimes result in extensive investigations or radical resections, the justification of which can only be a point of contention in retrospect. The following report explores our experience with one such patient and is accompanied by a review of the literature.

Keywords: Colonic mass; Colorectal surgery; General surgery; Hepatic flexure tumour; Inflammatory pseudo-tumour.