title: Interleukin-6-producing thymic squamous cell carcinoma associated with Castleman's disease and nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: When a 63-year-old man was hospitalized with nephrotic syndrome due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a mediastinal mass was discovered. A biopsy specimen obtained by mediastinoscopy showed findings compatible with the plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. Fever, anemia, and anti-nuclear antibody were present. Serum concentrations of gamma globulin, acute phase proteins, and, most strikingly, interleukin-6 (IL-6) were elevated. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy resulted in no clinical improvement. Pathologic examination of the resected thymic tumor showed a squamous cell carcinoma immunoreactive for IL-6. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported IL-6-producing thymic squamous cell carcinoma associated with Castleman's disease and nephrotic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Prefectural Mimuro Hospital, Kitakatsuragi-gun.
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiiki
authors.forename: Naotoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uramoto
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanatani
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6