Intrathoracic multicentric Castleman disease: CT findings in 12 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the computed tomographic (CT) findings of intrathoracic involvement in multicentric Castleman disease.


METHODS
The study comprised 12 patients with lymph node biopsy-proved Castleman disease and multicentric involvement. The patients were aged 23-58 years (mean age, 42.9 years; five men, seven women). Seven patients underwent open lung biopsy (n = 3) or transbronchial lung biopsy (n = 4), which demonstrated lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis.


RESULTS
All patients had systemic symptoms, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement. The nodes showed mild to moderate enhancement after intravenous administration of contrast material. At thin-section CT, all 12 patients showed poorly defined centrilobular nodules. Thin-walled cysts were present in 10 patients, thickening of the bronchovascular bundles in 10, and interlobular septal thickening in nine. Less common findings were subpleural nodules, ground-glass attenuation, air-space consolidation, and bronchiectasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Multicentric Castleman disease is characterized by the presence of systemic symptoms, bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and centrilobular nodular opacities. The pulmonary parenchymal findings are due to the associated lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis.
Johkoh
T
T
Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Müller
N L
NL
Ichikado
K
K
Nishimoto
N
N
Yoshizaki
K
K
Honda
O
O
Tomiyama
N
N
Naitoh
H
H
Nakamura
H
H
Yamamoto
S
S
D000328:Adult; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed