[Ultrasonographic features of Castleman disease in the head and neck: a report of 7 cases].

Abstract

Purpose: To summarize the ultrasonographic features of head and neck Castleman disease (CD), and to clarify its diagnostic key points.

Methods: Seven patients with head and neck CD confirmed by histopathology were collected from Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The clinical features and ultrasound findings of the patients were evaluated.

Results: Of the 7 patients (1 male and 6 females), the mean age at diagnosis was 31.4 years (7-60 years). All the cases were hyaline vascular type. On ultrasound, 3 lesions (42.9%) were located in the parotid gland, 4 lesions(57.1%) in the neck. All the lesions presented as a solitary, well-defined and solid mass without calcification. The echogenicity was markedly hypoechoic in 1 case(14.3%) and hypoechoic in 6 cases (85.7%). Of the 7 CD cases, 4 cases (57.1%) were heterogeneous masses with linear echogenic septa. All lesions had mixed pattern in vascularity on color Doppler sonography.

Conclusions: Most CDs in the head and neck represent as a markedly hypoechoic or hypoechoic lesion with mixed pattern in vascularity. The neoplasm may be characterized by the presence of linear echogenic septa within the mass.