Colonic Castleman Disease on FDG PET/CT

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Castleman disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder.
• Colonic involvement is exceptionally infrequent.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management.

Observation:

• A 72-year-old male presented with a colonic soft tissue mass.
• FDG PET/CT imaging revealed intense fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the mass.
• Pathology confirmed Castleman disease, plasma cell variant.

Findings:

• FDG PET/CT can detect hypermetabolic colonic masses.
• Intense FDG uptake signifies metabolically active tissue.
• Plasma cell variant of Castleman disease can manifest in the colon.

Implications:

• Castleman disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypermetabolic colonic masses on PET/CT.
• FDG PET/CT plays a vital role in the initial characterization of rare colonic lesions.
• Early consideration of rare entities improves diagnostic accuracy.