Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma following Castleman's disease: diagnostic challenges and literature review

Castleman disease (CD) represents a heterogeneous group of hematologic disorders characterized by distinct histopathological features. While CD is regarded as a pre-lymphomatous condition, its reactive or neoplastic nature is still a matter of controversy. Although rare, lymphoma has been reported in patients with CD, most commonly B-cell lymphomas. Here, we present a case of a 69-year-old man initially diagnosed with CD who subsequently developed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) during treatment. To elucidate the potential biological relationship between these two disease entities, we performed whole-exome sequencing to compare genomic alterations between the two disease states. Additionally, we provide a concise review of published cases documenting lymphoma occurring after or coexisting with CD, summarizing patients' characteristics and the various treatment strategies employed thus far.