Case Report
The diagnostic value of lymph node biopsy to detect Castleman’s disease
Submitted: 12 December 2014 | Published: 08 September 2014
About the author(s)
Prashilla Soma, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa, South AfricaSita Kara, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa, South Africa
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PDF (651KB)Abstract
HIV is not indicated in the aetiology of Castleman’s disease. However, it impacts on the prevalence and natural history of this disease and significantly on the disease progression. Castleman’s disease is a uni- or multicentric disease of the lymph node with or without polyclonal proliferation of B-cells. It is a morphologically distinct form of lymph node hyperplasia and is characterised by significant architectural changes in all lymphatic compartments. Histopathologically, the disease is classified into two major subtypes: the hyaline-vascular type and the plasma-cell type. A mixed type is also identified, as there are frequent transitions between the types. The diagnosis of Castleman’s disease needs to be made histologically. Treatment modalities include surgery, which is curative for unicentric disease, and systemic therapy, which is needed for multicentric disease. This case highlights the diagnostic value of lymph node excision biopsy in HIV-infected patients.
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