TB Research

Abdominal Inflammatory Lesions Mimicking Malignancy: Imaging Pitfalls and Clues.

Abrahão Elias-Neto, Thais Fellinger Trindade, Mariana Helena do Carmo, Raquel Nascimento Lopes, Mayara Rayssa Mendes Dos Santos Cruz, Ana Paula Fraga Cintra Gonzaga, Felipe Peres Caldas Barony de Oliveira, Aley Talans, et al. (14 authors)

Seminars in ultrasound, CT, and MR · 2025-06

Abstract

Abdominal inflammatory lesions may closely mimic malignancies on imaging, leading to diagnostic uncertainty and potentially unnecessary interventions. This pictorial review presents a series of cases involving diverse inflammatory conditions-including autoimmune pancreatitis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, diverticulitis, peritoneal tuberculosis, and others-that radiologically resembled neoplastic processes. Key imaging findings, such as mass-forming patterns, enhancement characteristics, and diffusion restriction, are discussed alongside clinical and laboratory correlations. Recognizing these mimickers is essential, as accurate diagnosis often depends on a multidisciplinary approach that integrates imaging expertise with clinical context, ultimately improving patient care and avoiding misdiagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Abdomen
  • Inflammation
  • Diagnostic Imaging