[Localized Castleman disease. Diagnostic difficulties in a surgically treatable disease]

Castleman's disease is a rare cause for a retroperitoneal mass. The disorder can be classified into two histopathological groups: the hyalin-vascular and plasma-cell types. The former type, particularly in its localized form, is often asymptomatic and benign, the surgical therapy may cure the patient. The latter type is frequently associated with systemic manifestations and an uncertain prognosis. We present a case in which the diagnosis of localized Castleman's disease proved to be extremely difficult. In these cases, the correct diagnosis, however, is indispensable, as these patients can be cured by radical surgical tumor excision.