Castleman's disease

(also known as angiomatous lymphoid hamartoma, giant lymph node hyperplasia, and Castleman Iverson's disease), an idiopathic massive enlargement of lymph nodes in the retroperitoneum. There is some debate about whether this disease represents a hamartoma or some form of chronic immune response. It is important in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses. There is some debate about whether this disease represents hamartoma or some form of chronic immune response. While the finding of adenopathy is important in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal masses, the disease rarely spreads into retroperitoneum. CT or MRI offer an evaluation of disease extent but biopsy and histology are required for definitive diagnosis.

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