Gallium scintigraphy in the diagnosis and management of multifocal Castleman's disease.

Castleman's disease is a rare condition which can mimic the presentation of more common disorders. We describe the first reported case of the use of gallium scintigraphy in the multifocal form of this disease and suggest that gallium scintigraphy may have an important role to play in both its diagnosis and management. The patient was a 37-year-old roofer who had previously always been fit and well. He was transferred to our hospital with a 10-day history of dry cough, myalgia and rigours. Except for symmetrical lower limb weakness, examination was normal and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was raised at 58 mm/h. The initial diagnosis was one of a post-viral myositis and he was discharged home on a reducing dose of steroids.