Castleman's disease - a diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

Castleman's disease is a benign lymphoproliferative disease characterised by hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles. It can affect any lymph nodes in the body. Here we describe a caucasian patient who presented with six months history of shortness of breath with CT scan confirming an 8 cm segment of consolidated lung in left hilum. PET scan revealed a mass measuring 68x80x55 mm extending from the left hilum out into the left upper lobe containing area of calcification with SUV max 4.8. The differential diagnosis included atypical sequestration, hamartoma and primary lung malignancy. The patient underwent left video assisted enucleation of the lesion. The histology confirmed the diagnosis of Castleman's disease.