Castleman Disease

Definition:
Castleman disease is a rare disorder that involves an overgrowth (proliferation) of cells in your body's disease-fighting network (lymphatic system). Also known as giant lymph node hyperplasia and angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, Castleman disease can occur in a localized (unicentric) or widespread (multicentric) form.

Symptoms:
Fever. Night sweats. Fatigue and weakness. Loss of appetite. Unintended weight loss. Enlarged lymph nodes, usually around the neck, collarbone, underarm and groin areas. Enlarged liver or spleen.

Statistics:
The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate for patients with unicentric hyaline vascular disease (49.5% of cases, class I) was 92.5%, versus 45.7% for those with multicentric plasma cell disease (20.2% of cases, class III) and 78.0% for those with any other combination (22.6% of cases, class II) (p < .0001). HIV+ patients (class IV) exclusively presented with multicentric plasma cell disease and had a 3-year DFS rate of only 27.8%. Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphoma were observed in 59.3% and 9.4% of HIV+ patients and in 2.6% and 3.6% of HIV− patients (p < .0001).