Posterior mediastinal Castleman’s disease with vascular malformation

Abstract

Castelman’s disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown aetiology, with the unicentric form usually involving the chest. Posterior mediastinal involvement is uncommon, exceedingly so when associated with vascular malformation. We report the case of a young female patient who presented with 9 months of left-sided, dull chest and flank pain associated with weight loss and a subjective tingling sensation. Imaging reveled a well-circumscribed hyper-enhancing posterior mediastinal para-oesophageal mass. She underwent a right posterolateral thoracotomy, mass excision. Histopathologic examination confirmed Castleman’s disease (CD) with arteriovenous malformation. CD with vascular malformation is a very rare condition that can only be diagnosed histopathologically. Surgical resection is effective and has a good prognosis. Keywords: Castleman’s disease; AV malformation; posterior mediastinum