Erdheim-Chester disease of the breast: a case report and review of the literature

Advances in Understanding and Management of Erdheim-Chester Disease

Erdheim Chester Disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytic disorder marked by infiltration of organs with CD68+ histiocytes. ECD stems from mutations of BRAF and MAP2K1 in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which further differentiate into monocytes and histiocytes. Histopathology reveals lipid-containing histiocytes, which test positive for CD68 and CD133 in immunohistochemistry. Signs and symptoms vary and depend on the organ/s of manifestation. Definitive radiological results associated with ECD include hairy kidney, coated aorta, and cardiac pseudotumor. Treatment options primarily include anti-cytokine therapy and inhibitors of BRAF and MEK signaling.

Rosai-Dorfman disease of the breast: a clinicoradiologic and pathologic study

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is an uncommon histiocytic disorder typically involving lymph nodes and less frequently extranodal tissues. RDD involving the breast is rare and may clinically and radiologically mimic neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders. We report seven patients with breast RDD, describe their clinicoradiologic and pathologic features, and discuss the differential diagnosis. Patients, ranging from 15 to 74 years of age, presented with unilateral and unifocal (5/7) or bilateral and multifocal (2/7) masses. RDD was either confined to the breast (6/7) or concurrently involved a lymph node (1/7). Masses ranged from 8 to 31 mm, categorized as Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 (6/7) or 5 (1/7). All cases showed similar morphology with many large histiocytes displaying emperipolesis with associated fibrosis and dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. The abnormal histiocytes co-expressed CD68/CD163, S100, OCT2, and Cyclin D1 (7/7), and were negative for CK AE1/AE3 (7/7), CD1a (7/7), and BRAF V600E (6/6). Flow cytometry (n = 3), kappa/lambda in situ hybridization (n = 5), and IgG4/IgG immunohistochemistry (n = 1) did not reveal lymphoma or IgG4-related disease. No mycobacterial or fungal organisms were identified on acid-fast bacillus (AFB) and Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) stains (n = 5). Three patients underwent complete excision and none recurred or progressed to systemic disease during follow-up (88-151 months). In summary, breast RDD should be included in the differential diagnosis of a mass-forming breast lesion. Histopathology with ancillary studies and clinicoradiologic correlation is essential for accurate diagnosis and optimal clinical management. Patients with RDD of the breast have an excellent prognosis after complete excision.

Erdheim–Chester Disease of the Breast: First Review and First Case of Isolated Severe Gynecomastia

(1) Introduction: Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) is a life-threatening condition and often a diagnostic challenge. It has recently been classified as a hematopoietic tumour, and the cases of ECD reported in the literature has dramatically increased during the last 15 years. (2) Methods: We describe the case of a 57-year-old male patient with severe gynecomastia, with a detailed description of his diagnostic iter and consequent surgical operation. We provide the first systematic review of the literature of breast involvement in ECD, following PRISMA guidelines, including 13 studies and 16 patients. (3) Results: Our report resulted to be the first case of gynecomastia as a single clinical and imaging feature of ECD described in English literature. A total of 81.3% of patients included were female. Among them, 76.9% had unilateral and nodular presentation, while male patients presented bilateral heterogeneous breast enlargement. Globally, 87.5% expressed breast alterations as their first manifestations of ECD. Only 50% presented skeletal involvement. (4) Conclusion: The reported case represents a unique addition to the literature. We found two different patterns in ECD-related breast involvement between male and female patients, an unusual M/F ratio, and a lower rate of bone involvement. Breast involvement is frequently the first clinical feature; therefore, breast caregivers should be aware of this dangerous and most likely underestimated condition.

Rosai-Dorfman disease of the breast: A potential marker of systemic disease

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare idiopathic benign proliferative disorder of histiocytes. RDD typically presents with cervical lymph node involvement; however, extranodal sites such as the breast can also be involved and should prompt evaluation for additional sites of disease.

A rare case of Erdheim-Chester disease in the breast

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis with distinctive radiologic and pathologic entities. We report a rare case of which ECD was involving the breast with only eight similar cases reported in the English literature. Our patient was a 52-year-old female patient with ECD involving the breast, mesentery, left kidney, retroperitoneum and the skeleton. The diagnosis was based on distinctive imaging and histopathological findings. The patient received a new novel treatment as part of a clinical trial in the United States and showed clinical and radiological improvement. SIMILAR CASES PUBLISHED: 8

Clinical considerations and key issues in the management of patients with Erdheim-Chester Disease: a seven case series

BACKGROUND

Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD), a non Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of orphan nature and propensity for multi-systemic presentations, comprises an intricate medical challenge in terms of diagnosis, treatment and complication management.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives are to report the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics, as well as cardinal therapeutic approaches to ECD patients and to provide clinical analyses of the medical chronicles of these complex patients.

METHODS

Patients with biopsy proven ECD were audited by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists who formed a coherent timeline of all the substantial clinical events in the evolution of their patients' illness.

RESULTS

Seven patients (five men, two women) were recruited to the study. The median age at presentation was 53 years (range: 39 to 62 years). The median follow-up time was 36 months (range: 1 to 72 months). Notable ECD involvement sites included the skeleton (seven), pituitary gland (seven), retroperitoneum (five), central nervous system (four), skin (four), lungs and pleura (four), orbits (three), heart and great vessels (three) and retinae (one). Prominent signs and symptoms were fever (seven), polyuria and polydipsia (six), ataxia and dysarthria (four), bone pain (four), exophthalmos (three), renovascular hypertension (one) and dyspnea (one). The V600E BRAF mutation was verified in three of six patients tested. Interferon-α treatment was beneficial in three of six patients treated. Vemurafenib yielded dramatic neurological improvement in a BRAF mutated patient. Infliximab facilitated pericardial effusion volume reduction. Cladribine improved cerebral blood flow originally compromised by perivenous lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

ECD is a complex, multi-systemic, clonal entity coalescing both neoplastic and inflammatory elements and strongly dependent on impaired RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling.

Erdheim-Chester disease with an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-avid breast mass and BRAF V600E mutation

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Herein we report a case of a 49-year-old woman who developed bilateral knee pain. Imaging procedures revealed multiple long bone lesions and a well-defined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-avid mass in the left breast. The breast mass was resected, and an open biopsy was performed on the right femoral lesion. Both specimens revealed involvement by histiocytic infiltrates with features suggestive of ECD. The BRAF V600E mutation was detected by DNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry.

Erdheim-Chester Disease: a comprehensive review of the literature

Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) is a rare form of non Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Individuals affected by this disease are typically adults between their 5th and 7th decades of life. Males and females are almost equally affected. The multi systemic form of ECD is associated with significant morbidity, which may arise due to histiocytic infiltration of critical organ systems. Among the more common sites of involvement are the skeleton, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, lungs, kidneys (retroperitoneum) and skin. The most common presenting symptom of ECD is bone pain. The etiology of ECD is unknown yet thought to be associated with an intense TH1 immune response. It may also be associated with the V600E BRAF mutation, as described in as many as half of the patients in recent studies. Bilateral symmetric increased tracer uptake on ^99mTc bone scintigraphy affecting the periarticular regions of the long bones is highly suggestive of ECD. However, definite diagnosis of ECD is established only once CD68(+), CD1a(−) histiocytes are identified within a biopsy specimen. At present, this obscure ailment embodies numerous challenges to medical science. Given its rarity, it is diagnostically elusive and requires a high level of clinical suspicion. Therapeutically, it is of limited alternatives. Currently, interferon-α is the most extensively studied agent in the treatment of ECD and serves as the first line of treatment. Treatment with other agents is based on anecdotal case reports and on the basis of biological rationale. Nevertheless, cladribine (2CDA), anakinra and vemurafenib are currently advocated as promising second line treatments for patients whose response to interferon-α is unsatisfactory. Overall, the 5 year survival of ECD is 68%. Herein, the authors mustered and brought about a panoramic consolidation of all the relevant facts regarding ECD. This work highlights the different clinical, radiological and pathological manifestations associated with ECD, the differential diagnoses, the various treatment options and the acknowledged science explaining the disease.

Rosai-Dorfman disease confined to the breast

Rosai-Dorfman disease (also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy) is an uncommon, idiopathic, benign histiocytic lesion. It usually involves the cervical lymph nodes and, less commonly, extranodal sites. Involvement of the breast is rare, with only 17 cases reported in the English literature to date. Here we describe 3 new patients with extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease in the breast. All 3 patients-aged 45, 53, and 54 years-presented with solid breast lesions that were detected on screening mammography and had no clinical history of Rosai-Dorfman disease or radiographic evidence of extramammary involvement. Initial diagnoses were accomplished by needle core biopsy in the one case and excisional biopsy in the other two. We present the histopathologic findings and follow-up of each patient and conduct a literature review of mammary Rosai-Dorfman disease with emphasis on its differential diagnosis. Because Rosai-Dorfman disease frequently mimics invasive breast carcinoma in its clinical presentation and radiographic appearance-and can mimic other benign or malignant histiocytic lesions microscopically-awareness and appropriate diagnosis of this entity are essential for proper treatment.

Erdheim-chester disease presenting as bilateral clinically malignant breast masses

Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis of unknown etiology, the commonest sites of involvement being the long bones, skin, orbit, pituitary and retroperitoneum. Breast involvement is rare, with only four reported cases in the English literature. We present a case of a 78-year-old female presenting with bilateral clinically malignant breast masses, with mammographic and ultrasound findings suggestive of locally advanced bilateral breast cancer. Core biopsies from both breasts showed identical features, with a diffuse xanthomatous infiltrate with scattered Touton-type giant cells and a patchy lymphocytic infiltrate. The cells were CD68 positive, and negative for S100, CD1a and a broad panel of cytokeratins. The patient has a background history of cerebrovascular disease with carotid artery stenosis, and subsequently developed rapid restenosis after carotid endarterectomy. With the combined clinical history and classic histological findings in the breast, a diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease was made. This is the fifth case report of Erdheim-Chester disease involving the breast, and only the second case with breast lesions as the presenting symptom. Perivascular infiltration is also a rare but recognized presentation of Erdheim-Chester disease. Histiocytic proliferations including ECD can mimic breast carcinoma clinically, radiologically, and histologically, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast mass lesions.

Xanthogranulomatous mastitis: clinicopathology and pathological implications

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is an uncommon finding in the breast. Sixteen cases of xanthogranulomatous mastitis were reviewed to determine the characteristic clinicopathological features. Xanthogranulomatous mastitis involved foamy histiocyte clusters interspersed with inflammatory cells. Foamy histiocytes were bland with small pyknotic nuclei. Xanthogranulomatous mastitis was associated with fat necrosis in five cases (31%), multinucleated giant-cell reactions in six cases (38%), and cholesterol crystals in five cases (31%). In three cases (19%), xanthogranulomatous mastitis coincided with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma. Duct ectasia with foamy histiocyte aggregates were noted in five cases (31%). It is suggested that the etiology of xanthogranulomatous mastitis is obstruction and rupture of the ectatic duct with foamy histiocyte aggregates. In breast core biopsy, granular cell tumor and invasive carcinoma such as histiocytoid carcinoma and lipid-rich carcinoma could demonstrate similar pathological features to xanthogranulomatous mastitis. In conclusion, xanthogranulomatous mastitis could be encountered in breast core biopsy and surgical excision tissue. Diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous mastitis can be made by excluding other diseases that elicit xanthogranulomatous inflammation in the breast. In breast core biopsy, xanthogranulomatous mastitis could be distinguished from granular cell tumor, histiocytoid carcinoma and lipid-rich carcinoma by using cytokeratin and histiocytic marker such as alpha1-anti-trypsin and CD68 stain.

An unusual case of Erdheim-Chester disease with features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) are both exceedingly rare histiocytic proliferations that can involve the skeletal system. We report on a case of ECD with some features suggestive of LCH. Radiographs demonstrated a large lytic lesion in the left femur, with multiple lesions of sclerosis involving both distal femurs and tibias. Both the lytic lesion and a sclerotic lesion were biopsied and demonstrated distinctive histologic features characteristic of ECD in the tibia and features of LCH in the femur. The clinical/radiologic and pathologic features that distinguish ECD and LCH as distinct entities are reviewed, and the underlying biological connection between them is discussed.