UNUSUAL CASE OF INFLAMMATORY SPINAL EPIDURAL MASS (CASTLEMAN SYNDROME)

Castleman syndrome (giant lymph node hyperplasia) is a rare, heterogen eous lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology and pathogenesis , Most cases occur as mediastinal masses, although extrathoracic invol vement including nodal and extranodal locations have been reported, Th e localized variants (solitary lesions) respond well to surgical excis ion, We report a 10-year-old boy who presented with headache, intermit tent fever, and progressive weakness of his legs, MRT imaging showed a n enhancing epidural mass with impingement on the spinal cord at the C 6-T2 level, Other laboratory abnormalities included anemia, hypergamma globulinemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and cerebrospi nal fluid pleocytosis with slightly increased cerebrospinal protein, T he mass was partially resected and the histopathology showed lymphopla smocytic infiltration compatible with Castleman syndrome, There was no evidence of malignancy, Castleman syndrome is the most likely diagnos is in the presence of the associated systemic findings, although the e pidural site for lymphoplasmocytic inflammation is atypical.