Mesenteric Castleman Disease Mimicking Neuroendocrine Tumor

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder with unknown causes.
• It can be unicentric (affecting one lymph node) or multicentric (affecting multiple lymph nodes).
• Unicentric CD is more common and typically localized, while multicentric CD presents with systemic symptoms.

Observation:

• Mesenteric involvement by Castleman disease is exceptionally rare.
• This report details a unique case of unicentric CD originating in the small bowel mesentery.

Findings:

• The unicentric Castleman disease presented as a mesenteric mass.
• Preoperative imaging and clinical presentation mimicked a neuroendocrine tumor.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering Castleman disease in the differential diagnosis of mesenteric masses.
• Accurate preoperative diagnosis can be challenging due to its rarity and varied presentations.
• Awareness of this rare presentation is crucial for appropriate patient management.