Castleman disease in the hepatic-gastric space: A case report

Background Castleman disease, also known as giant lymph node hyperplasia, was first reported in 1956. It is a rare benign proliferative pathological change of the lymph nodes. Case summary The patient, a 33-year-old woman, had epigastric distension for half a year. Examinations were performed in a local hospital. Computed tomography scan showed round soft tissue nodules, about 5.45 cm in diameter, in the hepatic-gastric space. Endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration was performed on the patient. Rapid on-site evaluation, hematoxylin eosin staining and histopathology of the puncture smear was performed. According to the Diff-Quik staining and hematoxylin eosin staining results of preoperative endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration puncture smears as well as the immunohistochemistry results, Castleman disease was highly suspected. A sufficient preoperative evaluation was made, and a precise surgical plan was developed. Postoperative pathology confirmed Castleman disease. Conclusion Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration can extract internal tissues of the tumor for histological and cytological examinations and provide accurate diagnosis as much as possible. Therefore, a sufficient preoperative evaluation can be made, and a precise surgical plan can be developed.