CD56‐Positive Cutaneous Lymphoma with Multicentric Castleman's Disease‐like Systemic Manifestations

Abstract

We report a 55‐year‐old Japanese male with CD56+ cutaneous lymphoma. The patient had multiple cervical lymphadenopathy, a red nodule on his neck, and parotid gland nodularity. Histologic features of the biopsied cervical lymph node showed follicular hyperplasia with numerous plasma cells. A biopsied skin specimen of the nodule on his neck demonstrated dense infiltration of atypical large lymphocytes into the dermis. Immunohistochemical study of this specimen revealed CD3+, CD4+, and CD56+ expression in the majority of neoplastic cells. Polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of Epstein‐Barr virus sequences were positive for lymph node and skin DNA. Laboratory examinations showed polyclonal gammopathy, pancytopenia, and high serum interleukin‐6 levels. These clinical and histological findings resembled those of multicentric Castleman's disease.