Castleman's disease - case report

Abstract

We report a case of a 16-year-old girl with hyaline-vascular type of abdominal Castleman’s disease. The patient presented with a history of palpable mass below left ribcage for 6 months. On admission the girl was in good general condition. Physical examination showed a palpable mass in the left hemiabdomen but was otherwise unremarkable. Laboratory findings were within normal limits except hypergammaglobulinemia with elevated immunoglobulin A level. Computed tomography (CT) revealed well-demarcated homogeneous mass, extending from left diaphragm to the lower pole of left kidney, as well as from peritoneum to the pancreas. CT-guided biopsy was performed. A biopsy material was considered insufficient for definitive diagnosis. A complete surgical resection was done, and a diagnosis of hyaline-vascular type of Castleman’s disease was established. Eight years after surgery the patient is in complete remission.

Conclusion - Castleman’s disease is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder, whose early recognition can be difficult due to nonspecific symptoms and radiologic findings. The right pathohistological diagnosis and appropriate staging of the disease are crucial in the treatment planning.