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Don’t fight Unicentric Castleman disease alone.
Find your community on the free RareGuru App.Unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) is a rare condition that affects the lymph nodes and related tissues. It is a form of Castleman disease that is "localized" to a single set of lymph nodes (as opposed to multicentric Castleman disease which has more widespread effects). UCD often starts as an enlarged lymph node. Depending on the location of this enlarged node, some people will have no additional features of the condition, while others will develop symptoms when it pushes on nearby organs and/or tissues. The exact underlying cause of UCD is currently unknown. Treatment typically includes surgical removal of the affected lymph node.
Source: GARD Last updated on 05-01-20
Some people with unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) have no signs or symptoms of the condition. When present, symptoms are often nonspecific and blamed on other, more common conditions. UCD is "localized" (only affects one area of the body) and often starts as an enlarged lymph node. Depending on the location of this enlarged node, some people may experience the following symptoms if it pushes on nearby organs and/or tissues:
Last updated on 05-01-20
The exact underlying cause of unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) is poorly understood. However, some scientists suspect that an increased production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by the immune system may contribute to the development of UCD. IL-6 is a substance normally produced by cells within the lymph nodes that helps coordinate the immune response to infection. Increased production of IL-6 may result in an overgrowth of lymphatic cells, leading to many of the signs and symptoms of UCD.
Last updated on 05-01-20
Some people affected by unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) do not have any specific signs or symptoms. In these cases, the enlarged lymph node may be discovered incidentally (by chance) during a routine physical examination or when an imaging study is ordered to investigate a different medical condition. If UCD is suspected, the following tests may be recommended to help establish the diagnosis and rule out other conditions that cause similar features:
Last updated on 05-01-20
Although the exact underlying cause of unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) is unknown, it is thought to occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition.
Last updated on 05-01-20
The long-term outlook (prognosis) for people with unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) is generally excellent. In many cases, the condition can be cured by surgically removing the affected lymph node. In fact, one study found that disease-free survival in people with UCD following surgery was approximately 93%.
Last updated on 05-01-20
Unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) can usually be cured by surgically removing the enlarged lymph node. If surgery isn't an option or the lymph node can not be removed completely, radiation therapy may be recommended to shrink and/or destroy the affected tissue.
Last updated on 05-01-20
The Castleman Disease Collaborative Network, a global initiative dedicated to accelerating research and treatment for Castleman disease, provides information about Unicentric Castleman disease.
Last updated on 04-27-20
MayoClinic.com provides an information page for this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
Last updated on 04-27-20
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