Mesenteric localization of Castleman's disease

Castleman's disease (or angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia) is a pathol ogic process of unknown etiology. Commonly, it is unique tumor localized in the mediastinum (unicentric disease). Extrathoracic localizations are howe ver reported with an increasing frequency. We describe two cases of mesente ric Castleman's disease. Diagnosis can be suggested by preoperative morphol ogic explorations (ultrasonography with Doppler, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging and angiography) and confrontation with clinical and biological data (young age, biological signs of inflammation). In the classical unique tumor of hyalin-vascular type, surgical removal allows def initive cure. Prognosis is poor in the plasma cell type, mostly in multicen tric disease due to high incidence of malignancy.