Unicentric Castleman’s disease in the posterior cervical space mimicking a schwannoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction. Castleman's disease (CD) is a benign and rare lymphoid tissue disease of undetermined origin. It affects the neck infrequently; therefore its preoperative diagnosis is difficult and can be confused with other hypervascular lesions. Case report We present a case of unicentric hyaline-vascular CD in the posterior cervical space (PCS) evaluated by MRI and initially presumed to be a cervical schwannoma. Discussion As shown with our case, unicentric CD should be included in the differential diagnosis for masses in the PCS, especially when a hypervascular lesion like a schwannoma is suspected. The finding of central low intensity areas in a fissured and radial pattern in T2 sequences can help to consider CD when dealing with PCS masses as shown by previous cases and our reported experience.