CD56-Positive cutaneous lymphoma with multicentric Castleman's disease-like systemic manifestations

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Cutaneous lymphomas represent a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
• CD56 expression is an uncommon marker in cutaneous lymphoid malignancies.
• Multicentric Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder with systemic manifestations.

Observation:

• A 55-year-old Japanese male presented with cervical lymphadenopathy, neck nodule, and parotid gland involvement.
• Histopathology revealed follicular hyperplasia with plasma cells in lymph nodes and atypical large lymphocytes in skin.
• Immunohistochemistry confirmed CD3+, CD4+, and CD56+ expression on neoplastic cells.

Findings:

• Epstein-Barr virus sequences were detected in both lymph node and skin biopsies.
• Laboratory results showed polyclonal gammopathy, pancytopenia, and elevated serum interleukin-6.
• The clinical and histological features were consistent with multicentric Castleman's disease.

Implications:

• This case highlights CD56+ cutaneous lymphoma with features overlapping multicentric Castleman's disease.
• The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive diagnostic workup for complex lymphoid neoplasms.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis and optimal management of such overlapping conditions.