Rare presentation of unicentric Castleman's disease in the parotid gland

Castleman's disease is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology; however, recent data have suggested a strong association with human herpesvirus type 8 and hypersecretion of the cytokine interleukin 6. Castleman's disease can present anywhere throughout the body; however, it is most commonly detected in the chest, neck, or abdomen. Two main forms of the disease have been identified according to location: unicentric and multicentric. Unicentric Castleman's disease differs from the multicentric form in that patients are often asymptomatic, and surgical resection of the lesion is considered curative. This unicentric or multicentric nature often serves as a distinguishing feature between benign or potentially malignant presentations. The diagnosis of Castleman's disease is challenging because of its nonspecific manifestation. The most reliable diagnosis is achieved though surgical resection and histopathologic confirmation. We report a rare case of unicentric Castleman's disease in the parotid gland and emphasize its importance in the differential diagnosis of oral-facial masses.