Unusual Localization of Castleman's Disease: Case Report in the Nasopharynx

Abstract

Castleman’s disease, a benign lymphoproliferative disease of unknown etiology, rarely occurs as a nasopharyngeal mass. Instead, thedisease may appear as a local or generalized tumor-like condition, usually in the mediastinum, andit can also involve both the lymph nodes and non nodal tissue. Since the nasopharyngeal roof is the residence of the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids), which is rich in lymphoid tissue, the appearance of Castleman’s disease is predictable. The presentation is variable and diagnosis is not easy. It may present as an asymptomatic involvement of one lymph node group or as a multicentric disease with systemic feature. Here, we report a 34 year old female patient with histopathologically proven hyaline-vascular type of Castleman’s disease, who presented with nasopharyngeal mass and was treated with a complete excision without complication. (Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2009;52:79-83)