Cervical Castleman's disease: imaging findings

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown cause.
• It can present as a neck mass, often mimicking other lymph node pathologies.
• Nonspecific imaging findings can complicate diagnosis.

Observation:

• A case of Castleman's disease was incidentally discovered during multinodular goiter surgery.
• The patient underwent excisional biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
• This case involved a comprehensive imaging workup including sonography, Doppler sonography, CT, MR imaging, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Findings:

• Castleman's disease presented as a neck mass with nonspecific imaging characteristics.
• Multinodular goiter surgery led to the incidental detection of Castleman's disease.
• Excisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

Implications:

• Complete surgical resection is crucial for both diagnosis and treatment of Castleman's disease.
• This study provides the first reported comprehensive imaging evaluation of Castleman's disease using multiple modalities.
• Accurate imaging and surgical planning are essential for managing this rare condition.