Objective:

To analyze the imaging features of Castleman disease (CD).

Methods:

A total of 15 patients with Castleman disease were performed CT or MRI scan and proved by pathology.

Results:

Among the patients

13 localized cases were hyaline vascular type (HVT)

1 diffuse case was mixed type

and 1 diffuse case was plasma cell type (PCT). On CT or MRI scan

3 cases of HVT showed punctate or bifurcate calcifications. 1 case of PCT and 1 case of mixed type showed punctate calcifications. 3 cases had small satellite nodules. A significant enhancement was shown in 8 cases of HVT in arterial phase

with nearly the same enhancement level compared with vessels. In portal venous phase and delayed phase the enhancement continued. Enlarged blood vessels within or around the mass were d

isplayed in 4 cases of HVT. In 4 cases of HVT

the intratumoral radial or fissured nonenhanced areas in early stage of enhancement were gradually filled up (2 cases) or still obviously existed (other 2 cases) as the scan time was delayed. 5 cases of HVT displayed moderate enhancement. 2 diffuse cases showed mild-moderate enhancement.

Conclusion:

The characteristics of CD can be showed clearly by CT and MRI. It is important to be familiar with these characteristics to improve the diagnostic accuracy and to avoid misdiagnosis.