Treatment of localized (unicentric) Castleman disease

Surgery is the recommended treatment for people with localized Castleman disease (CD) whenever possible. Removing the abnormal lymph node(s) usually cures the disease. Symptoms such as fever and fatigue that are caused by the CD go away when the lymph node is removed. Relapses are rare. Radiation can also cure localized disease but it’s not used as often.

Some patients with localized CD develop secondary amyloidosis, a condition in which abnormal proteins build up in the kidneys, skin, and some other organs. This protein build-up stops once the lymph node affected by CD is removed.

The outlook for localized CD is very good if the affected lymph node(s) can be removed with surgery. But sometimes the surgeon cannot safely remove all the disease. This doesn't necessarily mean it will come back. Even partial removal may help, and the disease may not grow back.