pseudotumor
Tumor-like benign swelling
A pseudotumor is a mass or swelling that mimics a tumor but isn't a true neoplasm—it may be inflammation, fluid accumulation, or abnormal tissue growth that appears tumor-like on imaging.
Pseudotumor cerebri refers to increased pressure inside the skull without an actual brain tumor, causing symptoms like severe headaches and vision problems.
The term helps distinguish conditions that look alarming but have different causes and treatments than cancer.
Area of pathological change
- growthIncrease in size
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- enlargementIncrease in size
- bulgeOutward curved projection
protrusion · nodular · cystic · solid · localized · focal · expansile · compressive
Magnetic body imaging
- imagingProducing visual representations
- radiologyImaging-based diagnostic medicine
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- pathologyStudy of disease processes
histology · workup · neuroimaging · ophthalmoscopy · angiography
Inflammatory mass walling off foreign material
- fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
- autoimmuneBody attacks itself
- myositisInflammatory muscle disease
Cranial pain
Not harmful or spreading
- reactiveTending to respond
- self-limitingAutomatically constraining its scope
- regressingReturning to earlier state
- non-cancerousNot likely to spread
lesion
Area of pathological change
- growthIncrease in size
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- enlargementIncrease in size
bulge · protrusion · nodular · cystic · solid · localized · focal · expansile · compressive · displacing
MRI
Magnetic body imaging
- imagingProducing visual representations
- radiologyImaging-based diagnostic medicine
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
pathology · histology · workup · neuroimaging · ophthalmoscopy · angiography
granuloma
Inflammatory mass walling off foreign material
- fibrosisPathological connective tissue buildup
- autoimmuneBody attacks itself
- myositisInflammatory muscle disease
headache
Cranial pain
non-malignant
Not harmful or spreading
- reactiveTending to respond
- self-limitingAutomatically constraining its scope
- regressingReturning to earlier state
non-cancerous · reversible · functional · treatable · manageable