an inflammatory pseudotumor in the costo-vertebral gutter: case report with literature review

Background and importance: inflammatory pseudotumors are benign tumorslike lesions of unknown cause. the most familiar sites for inflammatory pseudotumors are the orbit and respiratory tract. an inflammatory pseudo tumor of costovertebral junction is rare.case presentation: we presented here a 50yearold male with two month history of progressive left cervico-brachial pain. the mri showed an expansive process at the left costovertebral gutter with epidural extension through the lateral foramen, causing spinal cord compression from c7 to d3. the thoracoabdominal ct scan did not identify other lesions.conclusion: the inflammatory pseudotumor is a chronic inflammatory process of unknown origin. the location of the costovertebral gutter is rare and the treatment involves surgery, steroids and radiotherapy.