Castleman disease

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Disease Overview

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare condition that affects the lymph nodes and related tissues. There are two main forms: unicentric CD and multicentric CD. Unicentric CD is a “localized” condition that is generally confined to a single set of lymph nodes, while multicentric CD is a “systemic” disease that affects multiple sets of lymph nodes and other tissues throughout the body.[9161][9168] The exact underlying cause of CD is currently unknown; however, it is thought to occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition.[9162] Treatment varies based on the form of the condition, the severity of symptoms and whether or not the affected person also has an HIV and/or human herpes virus type 8 (HHV-8) infection.[9150]

For more specific information about each form of CD, please visit GARD’s unicentric Castleman disease and multicentric Castleman disease pages.


Synonyms

  • Angiofollicular ganglionic hyperplasia
  • Angiofollicular lymph hyperplasia
  • Giant lymph node hyperplasia
  • Benign giant lymphoma

For more information, visit GARD.

National Organization for Rare Disorders