[Castleman's disease: evaluation of 338 cases]

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate a large group of patients with Castleman's tumours (Castleman's disease = MC) with regard to age, sex and tumour localisation.

Patients and methods: 338 cases of MC were evaluated. All cases were registered by the Lymphknotenregister of the German Society of Pathology, Kiel.

Results: 292 MC of the hyaline vascular type (MC-HV) and 46 of the plasma cell type (MC-PC) were found, 259 (76.6%) in nodal and 79 (23.4%) in extranodal localisation. Main nodal localisation were the neck (25.5%) and the axilla (12.8%). The mediastinum was involved in only 6.2%. There was a slight preference of female (56%) compared to male (44%). Patients with MC-PC (mean age: 50 +/- 16.9 years) were significantly older (p < 0.001) than patients with MC-HV (mean age: 39 +/- 18.9 years).

Conclusions: The main localisation of MC is the neck. MC-HV is more common than MC-PC. There is a slight preference for women. Mean age of patients with MC-PC is approximate 10 years higher than for MC-HV.