CASTLEMANS-DISEASE OF THE MESENTERY IN A CHILD - A CASE OF 7 YEARS DURATION WITHOUT TYPICAL X-RAY FINDINGS

This report describes a 9-year-old boy with intermediate variant type of giant lymph node hyperplasia or Castleman's disease (CD) originatin g from the mesentery. He had symptoms and signs related to the disease for seven years before the final diagnosis. The patient's general con dition remained good, except for periods of fever and abdominal pain. Parlor and slow growth were the only abnormal findings on physical exa mination during the follow-up. Laboratory measurements showed worsenin g microcytic anemia, low serum iron level, and low iron stores in bone marrow samples. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) increased to 110 mm/h, and the serum levels of C-reactive protein varied between 8 0 and 120 mg/l. The level of serum albumin was low, 25-28 g/l, and ser um immunoglobulin G was somewhat elevated, varying between 17-13 g/l. The radiologic examination of intestine gave pathological results sugg esting a small bower disease, but no tumor was detected. The abnormal laboratory values and symptoms of the patient resolved completely afte r surgical removal of the mass. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.