Eosinophilic granuloma of the cervical spine

STUDY DESIGN

A meta-analysis was performed based on 53 cases of cervical eosinophilic granuloma reported in the literature and 1 in an adult treated by the authors.

OBJECTIVE

To stress the clinical and radiologic differences between cervical and thoracolumbar spinal eosinophilic granuloma and to point out differences between adults and children with cervical eosinophilic granuloma to avoid false diagnosis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Until now, cervical eosinophilic granuloma has been reported in 43 children and 9 adults. In 1 case the age is unknown. In previous studies, differences between adults and children with cervical eosinophilic granuloma have not been analyzed, nor has cervical eosinophilic granuloma been compared with thoracolumbar eosinophilic granuloma.

METHODS

All reported cases of cervical eosinophilic granuloma were analyzed concerning age and sex distribution, clinical and radiologic presentation, therapy, and outcome. The authors' case in a 46-year-old patient is discussed.

RESULTS

The presenting symptoms of cervical eosinophilic granuloma are usually pain and restricted range of motion. In contrast to eosinophilic granuloma of the thoracic spine and lumbar spine, the neurologic symptoms are less frequent, and the first radiographic sign is an osteolytic lesion. Vertebra plana is a rare sign in cervical eosinophilic granuloma. In children, the middle cervical spine is most often affected, whereas in adults it is the second vertebra. The outcome of the patients has been good in most cases, independently of treatment.

CONCLUSION

In most cases of cervical eosinophilic granuloma, immobilization is an adequate therapy. If the process continuous to progress, radiotherapy is recommended. Surgical treatment should be reserved for cases with instability or neurologic defects.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the bilateral temporal bone

An unusual presentation of eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of the bilateral temporal bone in a 2-year-old male child is discussed with the literature review. Involvement of the temporal bone is relatively uncommon and otorrhea or symptoms resembling mastoiditis are nonspecific. This rare condition should be kept in mind in differential diagnosis of otitis media refractory to medical therapy.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the spine: early spontaneous disappearance of tumor detected on magnetic resonance imaging. Case report

Two cases of eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of the spine associated with neurological deficits are presented. The patients were treated conservatively by using external fixation with a brace as well as bed rest. Neurological deficits and pain diminished and finally disappeared as the tumor mass decreased in size, as seen on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. During the 5-year follow-up period no recurrence of the tumors was detected on MR images. Surgical treatment for spinal EG in children presenting with typical vertebra plana is not recommended except for those with severe or progressive palsy and for those in whom the disease requires differential diagnosis.

Solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the temporal lobe: case report and review of the literature

A solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the central nervous system is an unusual manifestation of histiocytosis X. A unique case of a solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the right temporal lobe without osseous involvement is described. A 20-year-old man presented with a grand mal seizure. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an intraaxial enhancing mass in the right temporal lobe with marked vasogenic edema. A right temporal craniotomy was performed for resection of the lesion and the diagnosis of an eosinophilic granuloma was confirmed by histopathology. Follow-up MR imaging obtained 5 years following resection demonstrated no recurrence. Solitary eosinophilic granuloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of enhancing mass lesions affecting the central nervous system. Although the natural history of solitary eosinophilic granulomas remains poorly defined, surgical treatment still remains the mainstay of therapy for these unifocal cerebral lesions.

Clinical and radiographic features of eosinophilic granuloma in the jaws: review of 41 lesions treated by surgery and low-dose radiotherapy

Eosinophilic granuloma within the jaws may radiographically mimic other benign odontogenic cysts and tumors, and different protocols have been suggested in the literature for treating eosinophilic granuloma of the jaws. Forty-one lesions of eosinophilic granuloma, diagnosed in 25 patients, were reviewed retrospectively, and data were collected regarding age, gender, ethnic origin, location, symptoms, clinical appearance, radiographic features, treatment, and recurrence. The lesions were found in youngsters (18.1 +/- 4.7 years of age), mostly in the posterior parts of the mandible, and the most common presenting symptom was pain (92%), often accompanied by swelling. Approximately one half of the lesions were radiographically well defined without ossification. All patients were treated by enucleation (with or without peripheral ostectomy) and radiotherapy; 7.3% lesions recurred during follow-up (9.3 +/- 4.6 years). In addition, the different treatments suggested in the literature for eosinophilic granuloma of the jaws were reviewed.

Eosinophilic granuloma of bone: results of treatment with curettage, cryosurgery, and bone grafting

Intralesional instillation of steroids is currently the first choice of treatment for eosinophilic granuloma of bone. However, some lesions fail to respond or are unsuitable for injection therapy due location, pending pathologic fracture, and soft tissue intrusion. The authors treated six patients with these lesion characteristics using curettage, cryosurgery, and bone grafting. After a mean follow-up of 34.3 months, all lesions healed completely, although one femoral fracture occurred 8 months after the operation. In selected cases of eosinophilic granuloma of bone, a primary surgical treatment seems feasible. The use of cryosurgery as adjuvant treatment extends the surgical margin and is of value in averting local recurrence.

Vertebral remodeling in eosinophilic granuloma of the spine. A long-term follow-up

STUDY DESIGN

In this study, 14 conservatively treated patients were reviewed who had eosinophilic granuloma of the spine, which had been diagnosed on the basis of histologic study of the vertebral lesion or of specimens from other sites in patients with multiple involvement. The remodeling of the vertebral body was studied in an average follow-up of 5.6 years.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the remodeling process of the involved growing vertebral body in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis after conservative treatment and to assess the sagittal and frontal profile of the spine at the end of growth. Fourteen patients, aged between 1.2 and 11.3 years, with spinal involvement of a Langerhans' cell histiocytosis were treated in the department of orthopedics between 1980 and 1990. All patients had immobilization of the affected region by a custom-made brace. Six patients with symptomatic lesions had radiotherapy and four patients with disseminated disease were treated with chemotherapy. Clinical and radiologic examinations were made at regular intervals to evaluate the development of the vertebrae during the remodeling process.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

In the 14 patients, both sexes were affected equally. The disease was located in the cervical spine in two patients and in thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in seven patients each. Two patients had two vertebral lesions.

METHODS

The radiologic evolution of the 16 vertebral lesions was evaluated using follow-up standardized lateral radiographs. The reconstitution of the vertebral height in the presence of vertebra plana was calculated by measuring the ventral distance between the superior and inferior margins of the vertebral body in relation to the adjacent uninvolved vertebra.

RESULTS

The measurements showed a growth rate of 1.5-6 (average, 3) in vertebrae with vertebra plana and a growth rate of 1.1-2.7 (average, 1.4) in the unaffected vertebra. The reconstitution of the vertebral height was between 18.2% and 63.8% of the adjacent vertebrae before and between 72.2% and 97% after skeletal maturity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that conservative orthopedic treatment with immobilization in a brace is sufficient to allow for optimal vertebral remodeling. Partial to nearly complete reconstitution of vertebral height was seen in all cases. Thus, operative treatment with curettage of the lesion and bone grafting including multisegmental fusion with instrumentation is not necessary. In instances with neurologic impairment, rarely seen in adults, surgical decompression and short fusion of the spine is necessary. Nevertheless, complete staging and biopsy are mandatory for an accurate diagnosis.

Percutaneous techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of localized Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (eosinophilic granuloma of bone)

We retrospectively studied the outcome of percutaneous needle biopsy and intralesional injection of a corticosteroid (methylprednisolone) in thirty-nine patients who had localized Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (eosinophilic granuloma of bone). All thirty-nine patients had a solitary symptomatic lesion at presentation; a second lesion developed in two patients, two and four months after the first lesion was diagnosed. Therefore, there were forty-one lesions in thirty-nine patients. Fine-needle aspiration with or without core-needle biopsy was performed for all forty-one lesions, and the diagnosis of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis was established for thirty-seven (90 per cent). A corticosteroid was injected into thirty-five lesions. Twenty-nine received the injection at the time of the fine-needle aspiration on the basis of the cytological findings in the aspirate. Six patients who had a solitary lesion had a two-stage procedure because the injection was delayed until the diagnosis was confirmed with histological evaluation of specimens obtained by core-needle biopsy. Thirty-four (97 per cent) of the thirty-five lesions healed. The clinical symptoms associated with thirty-one lesions resolved within two weeks after a single injection of the corticosteroid. There were no complications associated with either the biopsy or the injection. At a median of ninety months (range, twenty-four to 199 months), no patient had recurrence of symptoms or of radiographic evidence of the lesion. All patients who had been managed with an intralesional injection of the corticosteroid had full range of motion of the affected extremity and had resumed unlimited activities. Although the mechanism of action of intralesional injection of a corticosteroid has not been defined, use of percutaneous needle biopsy to diagnose localized Langerhans-cell histiocytosis and treatment with intralesional administration of methylprednisolone relieved pain expeditiously, enabled the patient to avoid an operative procedure, and resulted in osseous healing. The specific role of corticosteroid therapy remains to be determined by prospective, randomized studies.

Cast and brace treatment of eosinophilic granuloma of the spine: long-term follow-up

Eosinophilic granuloma of the skeleton is rarely reported in the literature. The incidence of vertebral involvement varies between 7.8 and 25% and it is generally a solitary lesion, with a predilection for the male sex in the first decade of life. The prognosis is favorable also for the vertebral body's tendency for reconstruction. A recovery of the somatic structure is apparently much improved by eliminating or reducing mechanical stress by means of bed rest and the use of plaster casts or braces. We examined nine patients treated at the Orthopedics Clinic of Padova University, and with a follow-up of > or = 10 years. treated with plaster casts and spinal orthoses. The study was based on the modified Nesbit radiographic classification in 4 grades of severity depending on the height of the vertebral body involved. Long-term follow-up revealed no painful symptoms and a virtually total recovery of somatic structure in five cases, whereas four patients still showed a varying degree of somatic alteration. The osteogenic capacity of the intact ring epiphysis and ossifying metaplastic processes were assumed to be the mechanisms contributing, together with a reduced mechanical load, to reconstruction of the vertebral somatic structure.

[Lymph node eosinophilic granuloma. Apropos of 2 cases of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis with isolated lymph node involvement]

The authors report two cases of isolated lymph node involvement by Langerhans' cell histiocytosis which affected two young children. The histologic aspect reveals that lymph nodes have been modified by a proliferation of large histiocyte-like cells, associated with eosinophils. An immunohistochemical study on paraffin sections and for one case on frozen sections, reveals the usual phenotype of Langerhans' cells: these cells stain positively with S 100 protein and CD1 and are negative for both lysozyme and al antichymotrypsine. After a period of two years for one child and four years for the other, these children are in total remission, one spontaneously, the other after chemotherapy.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the spine

Twenty patients treated for eosinophilic granuloma of the spine were studied. Only 40% demonstrated the classical radiographic picture of vertebra plana. In 60% a lytic lesion of the vertebral body or the posterior elements was found. Seven patients underwent surgery; the indications were neurological involvement or failure of the biopsy to disclose the diagnosis. At an average follow-up period of 7 years, 17 patients are well and alive with no residual spinal pain, neurological compromise, recurrent disease, or extraskeletal involvement. Vertebral body collapse underwent some regeneration but did not regain full body height. In several patients this resulted in a local deformity. In patients with unifocal spinal eosinophilic granuloma, watchful observation with no treatment other than spinal support is warranted. In patients with neural involvement or multifocal lesions, a more active treatment, including surgery, may be indicated.

[Uni- and multifocal eosinophilic granulomas in adults. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Apropos of 3 cases]

Unifocal and multifocal eosinophilic granuloma are Langerhans cell histiocytosis of unknown cause. Over the last 10 years, recent insights in pathogenesis and characterization of this pathology have been made. The authors report three cases of adult unifocal and multifocal eosinophilic granuloma. A review of literature underlines diagnostic features and therapeutic aspects of this disease.

Splenectomy for suspected malignant lymphoma in two patients with loiasis

Intrasplenic lesions can cause diagnostic difficulties because malignant diseases can be excluded only by histologic examination. We present the cases of two patients with splenic manifestations of loiasis. Both patients had visited central Africa. Several years later, intrasplenic lesions were found during routine examinations (for chest trauma and employment, respectively). Both patients underwent splenectomies because malignant lymphoma was suspected. In both cases, histologic examination of the spleen showed eosinophilic granulomata with multiple Loa loa microfilariae.

Langerhans cell (eosinophilic) granulomatosis. A clinicopathologic study encompassing 50 years

We summarize our experience with 238 cases of Langerhans cell granulomatosis (LCG), 198 of whom were followed for a median period of 10.5 years. Our patients did well unless overtreated, and no deaths were attributed to the disorder itself. The disease may appear in unifocal or multifocal form, and treatment is based on this fact. Virtually all patients recovered completely except for occasional residual orthopedic problems or residual diabetes insipidus. Several of the patients underwent subsequent pregnancies without difficulty. The granulomas primarily occur in bone, but lung, skin, and lymph nodal involvement is not uncommon. Involvement of thyroid, thymus, and other sites is rare. The hallmark of the disease is the accumulation of Langerhans cells (LCs). We review the pathology of LCG by histology, electron microscopy, and immunolabeling. LCs originally were identified in squamous epithelium, but these cells are part of the widespread system of dendritic cells. The latter cells, which arise from CD34+ progenitors, are specialized and efficient antigen-presenting cells for T-cell-mediated immunity. In LCG, however, the major associated cells are not T cells, but mature eosinophils: hence the original name eosinophilic granuloma. Confusion about terminology has been based upon the scanty and rather crude pathology reports in the original literature. The term histiocytosis X was meant to cover a spectrum of three diseases--eosinophilic granuloma, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease (HSC), and Letterer-Siwe disease (LS)--but HSC and LS have no basis in pathology and hence the terms are meaningless. The term HSC has become a synonym for multifocal eosinophilic granuloma (LCG). The term LS has been used in reporting a number of benign, malignant, or unknown conditions. We prefer the term LCG to avoid confusion with the term histiocytosis X because there is evidence that the LC is not a member of the mononuclear phagocyte system and hence not a tissue macrophage, and because the use of the term "histiocyte" has become a convenience in much of the literature when reporting incompletely understood diseases.

[Improvement of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma after smoking cessation in two patients]

We encountered two cases in which pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma improved after cessation of smoking. The patient in case 1 was a 39-year-old woman. She smoked 10-15 cigarettes a day for 20 years. The patient in case 2 was a 19-year-old man. He smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 5 years. CT revealed cystic lesions and small nodular lesions predominantly in the upper and middle lung fields. Diagnosis was made by thoracoscopic lung biopsy in case 1 and by transbronchial lung biopsy in case 2. After smoking cessation, symptoms, CT findings, and vital capacity of both patients improved remarkably. Smoking cessation may have been related to the improvement in these patients.

Solitary eosinophilic granuloma of cerebral lobes. Value of immunohistochemistry for a diagnostic interpretation

Primary cerebral eosinophilic granuloma is a very rare lesion. In this study we report a further observation of solitary fronto-parietal eosinophilic granuloma in a child of three years. The immunohistochemical pattern, with the strong positivity of the histiocytic cells for PG-M1, an antibody which does not stain the Langerhans cells, suggests the reactive nature of the granulomatous lesion.

Treatment of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis in children. Experience at the Children's Hospital of Nancy

Forty children who had Langerhans-cell histiocytosis were followed for an average of six years (range, excluding patients who died of the disease, two to fifteen years). The patients were divided into two diagnostic groups: those who had localized disease (involving one bone or more only) and those who had multifocal disease (an osseous lesion and a soft-tissue mass, a skin rash, diabetes insipidus, or generalized disease). Methods of treatment included curettage, bone-grafting, chemotherapy, local or systemic corticosteroids, and radiotherapy. Nineteen of the thirty patients who had localized disease had a complete response to the therapy, four had a partial response, and seven had no response. Twenty-one of these thirty patients had not had a recurrence by the time of the latest follow-up examination; nine had a local recurrence within four years after the initial therapy but had no additional recurrences after treatment of the local recurrence. No recurrence occurred more than four years after the time that the initial diagnosis had been made. Five of the ten patients who had multifocal disease had a complete response to the therapy, two had a partial response, and three had no response. Six patients had a recurrence; four did not. Two patients died of the disease. As a result of this study, we recommend the avoidance of intensive measures of treatment, if possible, and we advise long-term follow-up of these patients.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty with acrylic cement in the treatment of a Langerhans cell vertebral histiocytosis

A 25-year-old man developed multiple eosinophilic granuloma of bone including vertebral and sacral localization. Radiotherapy was initially administered. One year later, a relapse occurred in another vertebrae which was previously irradiated. Percutaneous vertebroplasty was, for the first time to our knowledge performed, in this indication, with a good clinical result with follow-up now for one year. We emphasize that such treatment is permissible only in symptomatic, progressive lesions, with threatened decompensation of spinal stability. This technique should be used only on an adult.

[Lumbar eosinophilic granuloma with extensive paravertebral soft tissue infiltration]

The present paper describes a case of eosinophilic granuloma of the lumbar spine. The lesion affected multiple spinal levels and was accompanied by an extensive paravertebral soft-tissue mass. HR-CT scans revealed additional pulmonary histiocytosis X.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the skull--report of four cases

Eosinophilic granuloma is a benign form of the three clinical variants of histiocytosis-X. It is an uncommon, localized granulomatous process, forming solitary or multiple lytic skeletal lesions, and primarily involving male children and young adults. We studied 4 cases, three boys and one girl, aged 4, 8, 27 and 12 years, in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 1981 to 1990. Their common presentation was the rapidly growing, painful, and protruding scalp masses without neurological deficits. En bloc excisions of these lesions were performed. Then radiotherapy was given postoperatively in two cases, chemotherapy in one, and no adjuvant treatment in one. During their follow-up period of 2 to 10 years, all 4 patients were well, without evidence of recurrence.

[Eosinophilic cystitis]

We report two cases of eosinophilic cystitis that had been diagnosed anatomo-pathologically after TUR. These patients had a previous history of low grade and stage superficial bladder tumor that had been treated by intravesical interferon after surgery. The literature is reviewed highlighting the etiopathogenic aspects, the possible relationship with immune allergic factors, clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment.