Castleman disease: unusual manifestations of an unusual disorder.

Castleman disease was originally described in 1954 as a form of localized mediastinal lymph-node hyperplasia. It has also been reported as a solitary mass in the hilar region or peripheral lymph nodes. The authors describe 4 cases, 3 in the chest and 1 in the neck. The intrathoracic lesions involved (a) the middle portion of the superior mediastinum with extension into the neck, (b) the posterior paravertebral mediastinum with extension into the posterior intercostal spaces, and (c) the extrapleural posterior chest wall, respectively: this last case is unusual in that the tumor recurred in the same site several years after removal. The clinical, radiological, and pathological features are presented.