Inflammatory pseudotumor of the parapharyngeal space: a case report.

Inflammatory pseudotumor is an idiopathic granuloma characterized by infiltrative proliferation of inflammatory cells and myofibroblastic cells, as well as locally aggressive features, clinically and radiologically mimicking a neoplastic process. The occurrence of inflammatory pseudotumor in the head and neck area is uncommon, especially in the parapharyngeal space. The case of a 54-year-old female with inflammatory pseudotumor of the parapharyngeal space is presented. The patient initially complained of hoarseness, dysarthria, aspiration, and hearing impairment. MRI disclosed an expansive soft mass in the parapharyngeal space encompassing the carotid arteries. Histopathologically, the lesions were composed of numerous plasma cells, lymphocytes, histiocytes, and spindle myofibroblastic cells, showing perineural infiltration of inflammatory cells. The patients' symptoms, including conductive hearing loss, improved dramatically with reduction in lesion size after corticosteroid treatment. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.