Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in association with periapical granulomas and cysts

Langerhans cell histiocytosis simulating endodontic periapical lesion: Are we prepared to diagnose and manage it? A case report

Many aggressive non-endodontic radiolucent lesions show very similar clinical and radiographical features to periapical lesions of endodontic origin. Since the treatments of endodontic and non-endodontic lesions differ markedly, a precise diagnosis is imperative. Thus, the present study aimed at presenting a clinical case on the diagnosis and management of a Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) lesion mimicking a periapical lesion of endodontic origin. A 51-year-old male patient was referred to a private dental office due to slight pain from the region of tooth 36. Although no sign of prosthetic or endodontic failure was noted, radiographical examination revealed a radiolucent image with poorly defined borders associated with the periapical region of the tooth. Apicoectomy and bone curettage were then performed and, given the clinical and laboratory features, the definitive diagnosis of solitary eosinophilic granuloma was made. The surgical treatment was sufficient for the remission of the symptoms, and recurrence was not observed. Given the current case, dentists should be aware of LCH lesions as they may mimic endodontic periapical pathoses, leading to misdiagnosis and therapeutic complications. Moreover, alveolar bone lesions may be the first or only sign of LCH in many cases.

Immunohistochemical detection of Langerhans cells in dental granulomas and radicular cysts

OBJECTIVE

Dental granulomas (DGs) and radicular cysts (RCs) are chronic periapical lesions frequently involving the jaws. Langerhans cells (LCs) are dendritic cells responsible for the presentation of antigens to T lymphocytes. This study examined the expression of LCs in DG and RCs by immunohistochemical staining.

STUDY DESIGN

Eighteen cases of DGs and 26 cases of RCs were analyzed using anti-CD1a marker.

RESULTS

CD1a-labeled LCs were observed in 11.1% of DGs and in 69.2% of RCs, showing a significant correlation (P < 0.0001; Fisher's test). In DGs, LCs were only observed in granulation tissue, showing discrete immunostaining density. In RCs, LCs exhibited both a round and a dendritic shape in all epithelial layers. Although a correlation was observed between immunostaining density and epithelial thickness, as well as between immunostaining and inflammatory intensity, the differences were not significant in radicular cysts.

CONCLUSION

Langerhans cells provide important insight into the immunopathogenesis of chronic periapical lesions.

Immunohistochemical analysis of CD1a-labeled Langerhans cells in human dental periapical inflammatory lesions--correlation with inflammatory cells and epithelial cells

OBJECTIVE

Distribution and density of CD1a-labeled Langerhans cells (LCs) were examined in human dental periapical inflammatory lesions, and compared with inflammatory cell infiltration or epithelial cell proliferation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty three periapical lesions (26 apical granulomas (AGs), 8 epitheliated granulomas (EGs), 34 radicular cysts (RCs), 15 residual radicular cysts (RRCs)) were collected. As control, specimens of periodontal ligaments including Malassez epithelial rests were curetted from 21 teeth. LC densities were measured and various degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were examined immunohistochemically. Labeling indices for the cellular proliferation markers Ki-67 antigen and DNA topoisomerase II alpha were calculated in the epithelial components.

RESULTS

LCs were found in all periapical lesions but not in Malassez epithelial rests. LCs were more abundant in epithelial components than in subepithelial layers. Intraepithelial LCs were more frequent in RCs than in RRCs, whereas subepithelial LCs were less frequent in RRCs than in AGs and EGs. T lymphocytes consistently outnumbered macrophages, plasma cells and B lymphocytes. The range of the CD4/CD8-positive cell ratio differed according to the lesions. Increased LC density was associated with the severity of CD3-positive cell infiltration. Ki-67- and Topo II-LI showed various degrees of epithelial immunoreactivity. There was a significant correlation between LC density and proliferative potential of the epithelium in periapical lesions.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that LCs appeared to be associated with T lymphocyte infiltration and proliferative potential of the epithelial tissue in periapical lesions.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis restricted to the oral mucosa

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis comprises a group of disorders with Langerhans' cell proliferation as a common feature. The clinical presentation might be highly varied. Typically, there is bone involvement and, less frequently, lesions might be found in other organs, particularly the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, skin, and mucosae. Lesions limited to the oral mucosa are rare. We describe two patients with unifocal eosinophilic granuloma exclusively limited to the oral mucosa. Triamcinolone acetonide infiltration of a palatal lesion yielded a good result in one patient. Six months later, a similar lesion developed in the mandibular gingival mucosa, but it responded to the same treatment. The lesion in the other patient responded to local radiotherapy.

Eosinophilic granuloma: a case report with pathologic fracture

Approximately 10% to 20% of all cases of eosinophilic granuloma occur in the jaws. A palpable mass with or without pain is the most frequent presenting clinical feature. Less common clinical signs include gingivitis, loose teeth, and oral ulceration with poor healing. We report a case of monostotic mandibular eosinophilic granuloma in a 38-year-old woman that initially manifested mandibular body fracture, an unusual and poorly documented clinical sign for this disease. The clinical and radiographic features, differential diagnosis, and treatment plan of the case are presented.

Multifocal eosinophilic granuloma with sequential periodontitis-like lesions

Eosinophilic granuloma (EG) is the localized and mildest form of the triad commonly known as Langerhans cell histiocytosis. This report describes a case manifesting itself as a periodontal problem with the localized osseous lesions in jawbones which was first diagnosed as early-onset periodontitis. Later on, the diagnosis of EG was established, relying on histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations. Immunohistochemical findings confirm that a minor component of cell aggregates is phenotypically related to Langerhans cells among the sheet-like accumulations of histiocytes and eosinophils. The aetiology of the disease remains largely unknown. Although surgical curettage of lesions is usually effective in treatment of EG of bone, corticosteroids might be used as an adjunctive. This multifocal case of EG stresses the importance of clinical follow-up examinations, since the sequential lesions appear with irregular intervals, and this may cause diagnostic problems as well as a delay in starting the treatment regimen.