# Splenic inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell sarcoma: a case report with imaging features and literature review

**Authors:** Ruimiao Shang, Shuxu Zhu, Xiaoying Tao

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1686209 · Frontiers in Oncology · 2026-02-11

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare splenic tumor that resembles an inflammatory pseudotumor and highlights its imaging features to aid in diagnosis.

## Contribution

The study presents a new case of splenic IPT-like FDCS and identifies specific MRI features for early detection.

## Key findings

- The tumor showed progressive inhomogeneous enhancement on MRI.
- A peripheral hypointense ring on T2-weighted imaging was a notable feature.
- Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of IPT-like FDCS after splenectomy.

## Abstract

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm originating from immune follicular dendritic cells. Its inflammatory pseudotumor-like subtype (IPT-like FDCS) is even more uncommon due to morphological overlap with inflammatory pseudotumors. We report a case of splenic IPT-like FDCS and perform a systematic literature review to clarify the multimodal imaging characteristics of this rare entity.

A 50-year-old asymptomatic man had an incidentally detected splenic mass during routine health screening. Ultrasound showed a well-defined hypoechoic splenic lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed slightly hyperintense signals on both T1- and T2-weighted images, with progressive inhomogeneous enhancement and a peripheral hypointense ring on T2-weighted sequences. The patient underwent splenectomy, and IPT-like FDCS was confirmed via histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

Splenic IPT-like FDCS typically presents with nonspecific or subclinical manifestations, making noninvasive imaging modalities crucial for diagnostic hint. Progressive heterogeneous enhancement and a peripheral hypointense ring on T2-weighted imaging may be valuable imaging features for identifying this rare malignancy.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (MONDO:0005764), inflammatory pseudotumor (MONDO:0015798)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (taxon 9606)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CD38 (CD38 molecule) [NCBI Gene 952] {aka ADPRC 1, ADPRC1, cADPR1}, SDC1 (syndecan 1) [NCBI Gene 6382] {aka CD138, SDC, SYND1, syndecan}, CD34 (CD34 molecule) [NCBI Gene 947], CR2 (complement C3d receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 1380] {aka C3DR, CD21, CR, CVID7, SLEB9}, CD68 (CD68 molecule) [NCBI Gene 968] {aka GP110, LAMP4, SCARD1}, SPN (sialophorin) [NCBI Gene 6693] {aka CD43, GALGP, GPL115, LEU-22, LSN}, BCL2 (BCL2 apoptosis regulator) [NCBI Gene 596] {aka Bcl-2, PPP1R50}, BCL6 (BCL6 transcription repressor) [NCBI Gene 604] {aka BCL5, BCL6A, LAZ3, ZBTB27, ZNF51}, MME (membrane metalloendopeptidase) [NCBI Gene 4311] {aka CALLA, CD10, CMT2T, NEP, SCA43, SFE}, TNFRSF8 (TNF receptor superfamily member 8) [NCBI Gene 943] {aka CD30, D1S166E, Ki-1}, PDLIM7 (PDZ and LIM domain 7) [NCBI Gene 9260] {aka LMP1, LMP3}, FUT4 (fucosyltransferase 4) [NCBI Gene 2526] {aka CD15, ELFT, FCT3A, FUC-TIV, FUTIV, LeX}, FCER2 (Fc epsilon receptor II) [NCBI Gene 2208] {aka BLAST-2, CD23, CD23A, CLEC4J, FCE2, FCErII}, CR1 (complement C3b/C4b receptor 1 (Knops blood group)) [NCBI Gene 1378] {aka C3BR, C4BR, CD35, KN}
- **Diseases:** Hepatic tumors (MESH:D009369), pain (MESH:D010146), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (MESH:D020031), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), Hodgkin lymphoma (MESH:D006689), splenomegaly (MESH:D013163), Inflammatory pseudotumor (MESH:D006104), FDCS (MESH:D054740), metastasis (MESH:D009362), hemangioma (MESH:D006391), necrosis (MESH:D009336), cell sarcoma (MESH:D018228), Splenic hemangioma (MESH:D013158), abdominal distension (MESH:D000007), Splenic lymphoma (MESH:D008223), splenic tumors (MESH:D013160)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], human gammaherpesvirus 4 (Epstein Barr virus, no rank) [taxon 10376]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12933194/full.md

## References

32 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12933194/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12933194