Cytologic demonstration of "dysplastic" follicular dendritic cells in a case of hyaline-vascular Castleman's disease

• Published in: Diagnostic cytopathology 2000-04, Vol.22 (4), p.230-234
• Main Authors: Taylor, Graeme B., Smeeton, Ian W.M.I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; B-Lymphocytes - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Biopsy, Needle; Castleman Disease - metabolism; Castleman Disease - pathology; Castleman's disease; cytology; Dendritic Cells, Follicular - metabolism; Dendritic Cells, Follicular - pathology; dysplastic follicular dendritic cells; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Hematologic involvement in other diseases; Receptors, Complement 3d - metabolism
• ISSN: 8755-1039; 1097-0339
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0339(200004)22:4<230::AID-DC6>3.0.CO;2-5

Large atypical follicular dendritic cells, considered dysplastic by some authors, were first described in association with Castleman's disease in 1991, but until now there has been no cytologic account regarding these cells. We report the cytologic and histologic findings of a case of hyaline‐vascular Castleman's disease associated with “dysplastic” follicular dendritic cells which presented as a mediastinal mass in a young man. The presence of giant cells within the preoperative fine‐needle aspirate specimen caused initial diagnostic uncertainty and their true nature was only confirmed retrospectively following application of an immunostain for CD21 to direct smears. Awareness of “dysplastic” follicular dendritic cells within aspirates of Castleman's disease will result in less cytological confusion in the future and may help to avoid the possibility of misdiagnosing Hodgkin's lymphoma which has certain cytologic similarities. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22: 230–234. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.