Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the rib presenting with pathological fracture: a case report

Benign tumors of the chest wall

Benign tumors of the chest wall are rare tumors that might arise from all the tissues of the chest: vessels, nerves, bones, cartilage, and soft tissues. Despite benign features, these tumors can have several histological characteristics and different behaviors. Even if they do not influence life expectancy, rarely they may have a potential risk of malignant transformation. They can cause several, oft, unspecific symptoms but more than 20% of affected patients are asymptomatic and are being diagnosed incidentally on chest radiograph or computed tomography scan. Pain is the most common described symptom. Together with a detailed medical history, a rigorous and meticulous clinical and radiological assessment is mandatory. If radiological features are unclear or in case surgery could not be performed, a biopsy should be indicated to establish a diagnosis. Radical surgical resection can often be offered to resect and cure these neoplasms, but this is might not be true for all types of tumors and, in some cases, their dimension or position might contra-indicate surgery. Given the rarity of these tumors, there is a lack of treatment's guidelines and prospective trials that include a significant number of patients. This review discusses, according to the latest evidence, the histological features and the best treatment of several chest wall benign tumors.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the clavicle in an 11-year-old Chinese girl: A case report

RATIONALE

Eosinophilic granuloma (EG) - the most common form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis - occurs rarely, and manifestations with only rib and clavicle involvement are extremely rare. EG symptoms often include pain, swelling, and soft tissue mass. The clinical diagnosis of bone EG is complex, and the differential diagnosis includes Ewing sarcoma, tuberculosis, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, primary bone malignancy, and other osteolytic lesions.

PATIENTS CONCERN

The patient was an 11-year-old female who found a subcutaneous mass at the junction of the right clavicle and sternum 2 days before presenting at the clinic without apparent triggers. Initially, we considered a subcutaneous cyst or inflammatory mass. Color ultrasound and computed tomography examination revealed osteomyelitis. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with EG after a pathological tissue biopsy, and the child recovered after surgery and anti-infective treatment.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient underwent surgery to remove the tumor at a specialist hospital and was diagnosed with EG by pathological examination.

INTERVENTION

The patient went to a specialist hospital for surgery to remove the mass and underwent anti-infective treatment.

OUTCOMES

The patient recovered after surgical resection and antibiotic treatment.

LESSONS

In this report, we emphasize that the clinical presentation of EG in children is not specific. Furthermore, examining age, history, presence of symptoms, and the number of sites is essential to make a correct diagnosis, and a histological examination is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnosis and treatment of adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the rib: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disease caused by the proliferation of Langerhan's cells and aggregation in multiple organs. Rib involvement is extremely rare and easily misdiagnosed. The biologic behavior of LCH is largely unknown, and it is of utmost importance to differentiate it from tuberculosis and tumors. Herein, we present a male adult diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the rib which was successfully treated with surgery.

CASE DESCRIPTION

This study retrospectively reports a rare case of rib-only LCH in a 34-year-old male patient who complained of persistent stabbing pain in the left chest and back for 45 days. The pain increased after bending, and was accompanied by chest tightness, shortness of breath, and night sweats. The patient denied any family history of LCH. CT showed an isolated mass on the left chest wall invading the seventh posterior rib. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and pathological analysis. The immunohistochemistry showed VIM (+), Ki-67 (+30%), CD1a (+), CD 68 (+) and S-100 (+). After surgical resection, the patient was followed up for more than 5 years without recurrence or complication. In addition, we reviewed and summarized 11 reported LCH cases with rib involvement, in which patients were either asymptomatic, or reported chest or back pain. Surgical resection was the main therapy in each case, and after 4-63 months of follow up, all patients were disease-free.

CONCLUSIONS

This case presents a rare instance of adult LCH in the rib. Pathological typical Langerhans cells and positive protein S100, CD1a, and CD207 are the key evidences for LCH, and surgical resection is currently an effective therapy with satisfactory outcomes.

Metachronous Eosinophilic Granuloma of Rib in an Adult Patient

Eosinophilic granuloma (EG) is the unifocal osseous form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), which usually affects the skull and long bones. Although it most commonly affects the pediatric age group, it can rarely be seen in adults. Skeletal involvement is common in adult patients, but isolated rib involvement is extremely rare. Differential diagnosis includes other osteolytic lesions such as Ewing’s sarcoma, tuberculosis, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and primary bone malignancy.

The diagnosis must be confirmed histopathologically. In addition to pathological Langerhans cells, inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, eosinophils, and macrophages are observed in microscopy. Immunohistochemically, CD1a, S-100, and Langerin positivity are observed in biopsy and/or surgical excision material.

Treatment options may vary depending on the localization and extent of the disease. In unifocal EG, close observation of the patient may be preferred, as well as surgical excision, radiotherapy, and intra-lesional steroid administration. The prognosis in patients with a single bone lesion is quite good compared to other groups.

In this case report, we present a metachronous EG of rib developed in two different ribs by an interval of seven years, which were both surgically treated. In this mild variant of LCH, surgical resection with clean margins has a favorable outcome without the need for additional adjuvant therapy. Metachronous tumors may develop in isolated unifocal bone EGs, and long-term follow-up is mandatory.