Abstract
Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon, nonneoplastic, chronic process in
which the affected organ is destroyed by massive cellular infiltration of foamy histiocytes
admixed with multinucleated giant cells, plasma cells, fibroblasts, neutrophils, and
foci of necrosis. The organs most commonly affected by this entity are kidney and
gallbladder. Only a few cases involving the ovary have been reported. The etiology
of this entity is unknown, but the associated risk factors are infection, inappropriate
antibiotic therapy, use of intrauterine contraceptive device, abnormalities in lipid
metabolism, endometriosis, leiomyoma, and recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease. The
current case was a 31-year-old female with post-in vitro fertilization (post-IVF)
twin pregnancy, who presented with pain in the abdomen, provisionally diagnosed as
ovarian mass with suspicion of malignancy. Patient was treated with antibiotics and
an elective lower segment cesarean section was planned, due to lower abdominal pain
and the presentation of both fetuses being breech. Patient underwent exploratory laparotomy
with right oophorectomy and left double-J stenting, in view of left hydronephrosis.
Diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous oophoritis was established on histopathological examination.
There is only a single case; previously documented from India, in the setting of primary
infertility. The present case report stresses that the condition may affect women
of any age group and may be encountered in pregnancy, as has been observed in this
case. Hence, thinking about this differential diagnosis in the cases presenting with
similar complaints, would be of great value to avoid misdiagnosing them.
Keywords
pathology - xanthogranulomatous oophoritis - foamy histiocytes
