Mediastinal Castleman's disease: demonstration with computed tomography and angiography

The authors report a case of Castleman's disease in the mediastinum that was discovered in a young woman receiving high-dose steroids for oral pemphigus vulgaris. Computed tomography demonstrated that the mass was calcified and was markedly enhanced after intravenous injection of contrast material, a manifestation of the hyaline-vascular histologic variant. Arteriography proved invaluable in planning the surgical approach to this highly vascular mass. Because Castleman's disease is rare most radiologists are not familiar with the radiographic features and are unaware that profuse hemorrhage may complicate biopsy and surgery.