Ghost tumor: an inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver.

Inflammatory pseudotumors (IPTs) of the liver are uncommon benign lesions of unclear etiology and behavior that were first described in 1953 by Pack and Baker.1,2 Histologically, these lesions are composed of inflammatory cells, histiocytes, and fibroblasts, and IPTs have been described in the literature as plasma cell granulomas, xanthogranulomas, histiocytomas, myofibrohistiocytic proliferations, or inflammatory myofibroblastic lesions. In addition to the liver, IPTs may develop in diverse extrahepatic locations such as the lungs, central nervous system, major salivary glands, larynx, bladder, breasts, pancreas, spleen, lymph nodes, skin, and soft tissues.3–12 Although uncommon, IPTs of the liver have been increasingly recognized in recent years, mainly in Asian countries. These lesions are often treated via hepatic resection because they are mistaken for malignant lesions.1,2