Abdominal giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease): report of two cases

To describe the clinical characteristics and diagnostic features of giant lymph node hyperplasia or Castleman's disease found in rare locations. Two cases of Castleman's disease (1 abdominal and 1 retroperitoneal) were confirmed histopathologically. The clinical and medical imaging features were described and relative literatures were reviewed. One patient had no clinical symptoms and the other had epigastric discomfort. The location of the benign tumor was retroperitoneal and left adrenal gland, respectively. Both cases were of solitary tumor, 1 was a hyaline-vascular type and the other was a mixed type with plasma cell and hyaline-vascular type. Both were successfully treated by surgical excision. Patients were followed up for 3 and 4 years respectively with no signs of recurrence on CT imaging. Abdominal Castleman's disease lacks specific clinical manifestations. Definitive diagnosis requires histologic examination and excisional surgery is the method of choice for treatment.