2017 Volume 65 Issue 1 Pages 51-56
A 72-year-old female with systemic lymphadenopathy was diagnosed with multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD), following a needle biopsy of her axillary lymph node. She experienced recurrent fever and a rash, and was then transferred to our respiratory department. She had fever and dyspnea with consolidation and pleural effusion on computed tomography (CT). Lung lesions are common but pleural effusion is an unusual symptom in Castleman's disease. We administered antibacterial agents but her condition worsened. Symptoms rapidly improved following administration of systemic corticosteroid, and the consolidation and pleural effusion also disappeared. We suggest that pleural effusion in Castleman's disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis for pleural effusion that is unresponsive to antibacterial treatment.
