Inflammatory pseudotumors of the stomach.

3 patients are presented in whom radiologic examination revealed large filling defects in the stomach. The mass-like lesions were proved to be caused by nonspecific, nongranulomatous circumscribed inflammation of the gastric wall. This condition is radiologically often indistinguishable from gastric carcinoma or lymphoma and in many reported cases was diagnosed only after surgery. The mucosa may be hypertrophic, atrophic or normal in the region of the thickened wall. The thickening is produced by the inflammatory infiltration and edema of the gastric wall. In most cases the cause of this localized inflammation remains unknown.