Castleman Disease in Children

Castleman disease is a condition in which benign tumors grow in the lymph nodes, but do not spread throughout the body. It occurs rarely in children. Castleman disease is known by several other names, including: giant lymph node hyperplasia, angiofollicar lymph node hyperplasia, Castleman tumor, angiomatous lymphoid and hamartoma of the lymphatics.

• Castleman Disease is Rare in Children

About

• According to WebMD and the National Organization of Rare Disorders, Castleman disease in children is a rare occurrence and involves the growth of tumors in the lymph nodes. These tumors are considered benign and most commonly occur in the lymph nodes of the neck, chest and stomach. Tumors in this location account for approximately 90 percent of cases. In even rarer cases, the tumors can be found in the lymph nodes under the arms or in the groin area.

Symptoms

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two types of Castleman disease in children, and each affects the child very differently. The first type of this illness is Unicentric Castleman disease; symptoms include low grade fever, pressure in the chest that may interfere with breathing, weight loss and skin rash, fatigue, anemia and excessive sweating. The second type is Multicentric Castleman disease, and symptoms include fever, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes in the throat, underarms or groin, enlarged liver or spleen and numbness in the hands and feet.

Causes

• According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of either type of Castleman disease is not known. The disease has been associated with several other conditions, including human herpes virus 8 -- also known as HHV8. This particular virus has also been linked to other serious ailments including Kaposi's Sarcoma, which is associated with HIV/AIDS. It is not uncommon for individuals with Castleman to also have Kaposi's Sarcoma.

Risk Factors

• The Mayo Clinic states that there are not any apparent risk factors for individuals who have this rare ailment other than being HIV-positive or having AIDS. According to the Mayo Clinic website, Castleman disease can occur at any age and to almost any person. However, the most common age range for individuals with Unicentric Castleman is approximately 30 to 40 years old, and Multicentric Castleman is most commonly found in people aged 50 and 60. This may partially correlate to the ages of those who are HIV-positive or have developed full-blown AIDS.

Treatment

• Two primary treatment approaches exist for Castleman disease, depending on the type of disease a child may have. For children with Unicentric Castleman, the affected lymph node may be surgically removed, particularly if it is located in the underarm, groin or throat where it is easily accessible. However, Multicentric Castleman may be more difficult to treat and the disease may go into spontaneous remission. According to the Mayo Clinic other treatment approaches for both forms of the illness include the use of chemotherapy, corticosteroids and antiviral drugs.