ABSTRACT
Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder typically manifesting with bulky lymphadenopathy in multiple lymph node stations. We describe an atypical presentation of human herpes virus 8 (HHV8)-associated MCD in a middle-aged man with no significant medical history who presented with 1 month of systemic symptoms. He was found to be HIV-1 positive. A physical examination did not reveal palpable lymphadenopathy. A contrast-enhanced CT scan was notable for hepatosplenomegaly and mildly enlarged scattered lymph nodes in the abdomen and pelvis. A positron emission tomography/CT scan demonstrated hypermetabolic cervical chain lymph nodes. Posterior cervical lymph node pathology showed HHV8-positive MCD with concurrent HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma. The patient was treated with rituximab and liposomal doxorubicin without response. We emphasise the lack of the hallmark of bulky lymphadenopathy in this patient, and the importance of a timely pathological diagnosis in MCD.
ABSTRACT
This report documents a rare case of COVID-19-associated constrictive pericarditis (CP) in the setting of a recent COVID-19 infection. A 55-year-old man with a history of hypertension and gout presented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia with progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. His hospital course was complicated by a large pericardial effusion; an emergent bedside transthoracic echocardiography was concerning for cardiac tamponade, so pericardiocentesis was performed. A workup with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed changes consistent with a diagnosis of CP. Viral and idiopathic aetiologies are the most common cause of CP in the developed world, with COVID-19 now a proposed predisposing viral illness. The virus induces systemic inflammation and pericardial changes that can lead to CP physiology. Imaging modalities including echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance play an integral role in confirming the diagnosis.