Central nervous system crystal-storing histiocytosis: neuroimaging, neuropathology, and literature review

Crystal storing histiocytosis forming a mass lesion in temporal lobe

Crystal storing histiocytosis is a disorder characterized by local or diffuse infiltration of histiocytes containing crystalline inclusions. This entity has been reported in several organs, however the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is extremely rare and to date only 7 cases of crystal storing histiocytosis (CSH) of CNS have been reported in the English literature. More than 90% patients with CSH had an underlying lymphoproliferative or plasma cell disorders, especially multiple myeloma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma or monoclonal gammopathy. Radiologically and intraoperatively, CSH may mimic an infectious process or neoplasm, hence its histopathological confirmation is important to facilitate appropriate treatment. In this report, we describe an additional case of crystal storing histiocytosis in a 48 year old female who presented with a mass lesion in the right temporal lobe of the cerebrum.

Crystal-Storing Histiocytosis: The Iceberg of More Serious Conditions

Crystal-storing histiocytosis is a rare condition that is histologically characterized by intracellular cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions. It usually presents monoclonal immunoglobulins that deposit within histiocytes, which accumulate and affect different organs of the human body and are commonly associated with lymphoproliferative conditions, especially those with plasmacytic differentiation. The prognosis of this condition is variable and related to the underlying clinical disease. In this review article, we aim to describe and discuss the clinical and pathological characteristics of crystal-storing histiocytosis based on the available literature and to provide a thorough differential diagnosis.

Immunoglobulin-Storing Histiocytosis: A Case Based Systemic Review

Crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) is a rare event in disorders associated with monoclonal gammopathy and is mostly associated with the accumulation of immunoglobulins (Igs) in the cytoplasm of histiocytes. In this article, we present a case of a 75-year-old female with IgG kappa monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and signs of a non-crystallized version of immunoglobulin-storing histiocytosis (IgSH) in a vertebra corpus. Furthermore, we performed a literature review based on all cases of storing histiocytosis identified by literature search between 1987 and 2020 and identified 140 cases in total. The median age at diagnosis was 60 years (range 18–91), with an equal sex distribution (51% men). The majority of the patients had an underlying neoplastic B-cell disorder, most often multiple myeloma (MM), MGUS, or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL). The main affected organ systems or tissue sites were bone (n = 52), followed by head and neck (n = 31), kidney (n = 23), lung (n = 20), and gastrointestinal (GI)-tract (n = 18). IgG was the main immunoglobulin class involved, and most cases were associated with kappa light chain expression. We conclude that IgSH is a rare disease entity but should be considered with unusual findings in several organ systems associated with monoclonal gammopathy, especially with kappa light chain expression.

Neuroimaging features of CNS histiocytosis syndromes

Histiocytosis syndromes (HS) are group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by abnormal accumulation and infiltration of histiocytes, cells derived from hematopoietic cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage. Overall these disorders are rare. When they do occur they involve many organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS). While imaging findings can provide important clues, diagnosis of this disorder is challenging and definitive diagnosis often necessitates pathologic examination. In this review, we describe imaging features of HS involving the CNS, with the aim to increase our understanding of these disorders. The entities discussed in this review will include: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD), Erdheim Chester Disease (ECD), hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), and crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH).

Localized crystal-storing histiocytosis of the posterior fossa

Crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) is an uncommon histiocytic proliferation reported to involve diverse organs and tissues, but involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is rare. In most cases CSH is identified in association with underlying lymphoproliferative, plasma cell diseases or rarely with various inflammatory or infectious conditions. CSH is characterized by the cytoplasmic accumulation of crystalline material in histiocytes, most commonly of kappa immunoglobulin light chain. We report a unique case of localized CSH involving the left cerebellum and caudal brain stem in a young man with a history of gout but without known lymphoproliferative or plasma cell disorders. Awareness of this entity is important diagnostically, but also to ensure appropriate management and follow-up, particularly in the absence of apparent underlying malignancy.

Crystal-Storing Histiocytosis in Bone Marrow: A Clinicopathologic Study of Eight Cases and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVES

We report the clinicopathologic characteristics of eight cases of crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) with bone marrow (BM) involvement (BM-CSH) and review CSH cases published in the English literature.

METHODS

We queried our pathology database for BM cases with CSH mentioned in the final diagnosis/comments from June 2011 to August 2016.

RESULTS

Eight cases of BM-CSH were identified. The underlying diagnoses consisted predominantly of plasma cell disorders (88%) associated with monotypic κ light chain. In BM aspirates, crystals within histiocytes exhibited a morphologic spectrum including brightly eosinophilic, needle-like, or globule-like. In BM core biopsies, the histiocytes were often in aggregates with intracellular needle-like and/or globular, refractile inclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

BM-CSH is a rare phenomenon and exhibits a heterogeneous crystalline and histiocytic appearance warranting accurate recognition to avoid misinterpretation of a granulomatous condition or storage disorder. In addition, prompt assessment for an underlying B-cell lymphoma or clonal plasmacytic neoplasm is indicated.

Non-neoplastic histiocytic and dendritic cell disorders in lymph nodes

Benign and malignant proliferations of histiocytes and dendritic cells may be encountered in lymph nodes. Reactive histiocytic and dendritic cell infiltrates occur in response to diverse stimuli and in addition to causing lymphadenopathy, may be present unexpectedly in lymph nodes excised for other indications. This review summarizes the pathogenesis and histopathological features of the various non-neoplastic histiocytic and dendritic cell infiltrates that can occur in lymph nodes.

Paraprotein deposits in the skin

Cutaneous manifestations secondary to paraprotein deposits in the skin include a group of different disorders that although rare, may be the first clinical manifestation of the underlying hematologic dyscrasia. In this article we review the clinical manifestations and histopathologic findings of the processes that result from specific deposition of the paraprotein in different structures of the skin. Paraneoplastic processes frequently associated with hematologic malignancies will not be covered in this review. Some of the disorders included here result from deposition of the intact paraprotein in the skin, whereas in other cases the lesions are due to deposition of modified paraproteins in the form of amyloid substance, cryoglobulins, or crystalglobulins. Cutaneous amyloidoma refers to nodular dermal deposits of amyloid derived from immunoglobulin light chains produced by local plasma cells in the absence of systemic amyloidosis. Dermatologists and dermatopathologists should be aware of the clinical and histopathologic features of these rare disorders because sometimes the cutaneous lesions are the first sign of an underlying silent hematologic malignancy with paraproteinemia.

Crystal-storing histiocytosis: a clinicopathological study of 13 cases

AIMS

Crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) is a rare lesion composed of histiocytes with abnormal intralysosomal accumulation of immunoglobulin (Ig) as crystals, reported in patients with plasmacytic/lymphoplasmacytic neoplasms. The aims of this study were to report the clinicopathological features of 13 patients with CSH, and to describe the proteomic composition of the crystals in three cases analysed by mass spectrometry (MS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

There were seven men and six women, with a median age of 60 years (range, 33-79 years). CSH was generalized in one patient (8%) and localized in 12 (92%) patients, involving various sites. CSH was associated with a low-grade B-cell lymphoma with plasmacytoid differentiation or a plasma cell neoplasm in all cases. In 10 (77%) cases, CSH represented >50% of the neoplastic infiltrate. According to immunohistochemical studies, histiocytes were positive for monotypic kappa in 5 (50%) cases, and for monotypic lambda in 4 (40%) cases; in 1 (10%) case, the results were equivocal. MS analysis of the histiocyte contents in all three tested cases showed a predominance of variable-region fragments of Ig light and/or heavy chains.

CONCLUSIONS

CSH is frequently associated with an underlying lymphoplasmacytic neoplasm. MS findings suggest that Ig alterations and/or possibly defects in the ability of histiocytes to process Ig play a role in pathogenesis.

Clinical Neuropathology image 1-2015: Crystal-storing histiocytosis of the central nervous system

Not available.

IgA/kappa-restricted crystal storing histiocytosis involving the central nervous system characterized by proteomic analysis

Crystal storing histiocytosis (CSH) is a rare disorder characterized by the accumulation of crystalline material in the cytoplasm of histiocytes. Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) with CSH is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of crystal storing histiocytosis involving the CNS. Using immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry we demonstrate that the disease resulted from an IgA-κ restricted plasma cell dyscrasia. CNS-CSH represents a rare clinicopathologic entity with an indolent course, usually lacking systemic manifestations.

Crystal-storing histiocytosis associated with marginal-zone lymphoma

We report a rare case of crystal-storing histiocytosis (CSH) associated with marginal-zone lymphoma. A 91-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with masses of the posterior neck, right breast, and left upper arm. An enlarging mass of the neck was removed and was histologically diagnosed as CSH, associated with marginal-zone lymphoma. Masses in the breast and upper arm were evaluated by needle biopsy and revealed as CSH. CSH is a rare condition characterized by the intrahistiocytic accumulation of crystallized immunoglobulins, and is associated with disorders in which monoclonal immunoglobulins are expressed. To the best of our knowledge, there are few previous descriptions of CSH which include the imaging features of this disease. In the present case, the masses showed hypoechogenicity with internal patchy hyperechoic areas on ultrasonography, and an iso-signal to slight hyperintensity compared with muscle on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. We report the imaging findings in CSH and discuss their diagnostic implications.

Crystal storing histiocytosis presenting as a temporal lobe mass lesion

BACKGROUND

Crystal storing histiocytosis (CSH) is a disorder characterized by local or diffuse infiltration of histiocytes containing crystalline inclusions most commonly of immunoglobulin light chain. Involvement of the central nervous system is extremely rare. CSH may be misdiagnosed as an infection or tumor. In patients with involvement of other organs, it is frequently associated with lymphoplasmacytic diseases.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 20-year-old female was evaluated for 2 weeks of progressively worsening headaches. At presentation, she had no history of fevers but reported a sore throat without cough 3-4 days prior. Her past medical history was unremarkable. She denied intravenous drug use or sexually transmitted diseases but lived with an individual with a history of fungal meningitis. On examination she was afebrile, alert, and oriented with a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg. She had no adenopathy or neurological deficits. Her white blood cell count was minimally elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3.5 × 1.3 × 1.9 cm contrast enhancing lesion of the left temporal lobe with a mild midline shift. Evaluation by multiple specialists suggested a differential diagnosis of an infectious or neoplastic process. Cultures for infectious agents were negative. The biopsy showed CSH. Postoperatively and at 1 month follow up, she was neurologically intact.

CONCLUSION

Radiographically and intraoperatively, CSH may mimic an infectious process or neoplasm. Its recognition is critical to facilitate appropriate therapy and prompt screening for an occult lymphoplasmacytic neoplasm, plasma cell dyscrasia or other underlying disease.

Novel crystalloid oligodendrogliopathy in hereditary spastic paraplegia

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) comprises a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders associated with spastic paraparesis (pure HSP) with or without additional neurological symptoms (complicated HSP). Here we present a case of an adult-onset, apparently autosomal-dominant, complicated form of HSP. Onset of clinical symptoms was at the age 40 years and characterised by slowly progressive corticospinal tract dysfunction, dysarthria, disorientation, extrapyramidal symptoms, and bilateral ptosis. Cranial MRI revealed hyperintensities on T2-weighted sequences mostly in the posterior limb of the internal capsule. The proband deceased at the age of 64 years. As morphological substrate for the slowly progressive clinical symptoms, comprehensive neuropathological and ultrastructural evaluation revealed a novel oligodendrogliopathy with distinctive, partly ubiquitinated and p62 positive fibrillar inclusions evolving into crystalloid deposits, containing elements of the oligodendroglial cytoskeleton (α- and β-tubulin, TPPP/p25). In the central nervous system, accumulation of crystalloid structures has been related to histiocytes but not to glial cells. This study has implications for the understanding on how the human central nervous system reacts to protracted dysfunction and disruption of the oligodendroglial cytoskeleton, including development of crystalloid structures, which have not yet been reported in neurodegenerative diseases including HSP.

Crystal-storing histiocytosis: report of a case, review of the literature (80 cases) and a proposed classification

We report a case of crystal storing histiocytosis (CSH) of the upper lip and cheek in a 51-year-old woman and review the clinicopathologic features of 80 cases in the literature. These occurred in 41 men and 39 women with a respective mean age of 59 and 61 years (range 17-81 years). Forty-six patients (58%) had localized CSH, and, of these, 16 (35%) occurred in the head and neck, with the most common site being the eye/orbit. The remaining 34 patients (42%) had generalized CSH primarily involving bone marrow, liver, lymph nodes, spleen and/or kidney. Regardless of whether the CSH was localized or generalized, the vast majority of patients (90%) had an underlying lymphoproliferative or plasma cell disorder, especially multiple myeloma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. In 7 cases (8.8%), the CSH was associated with a variety of benign disorders, often with an inflammatory background, and no evidence of a clonal lymphoproliferative or plasma cell disorder. Treatment and prognosis varied according to the underlying disease. A classification of CSH based on etiology and/or associated disease and chemical composition of the crystal is proposed, rare non-immunoglobulin variants of CSH are discussed, and a differential diagnosis of other potentially confusing lesions is provided.

Crystal-storing histiocytosis: An unusual relapsing inflammatory CNS disorder

The differential diagnosis of acute leukoencephalopathy often focuses on central nervous system idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IIDDs) such as multiple sclerosis (MS). However, a spectrum of conditions mimic IIDDs, therefore it is critical to consider whether symptoms, signs, imaging and/or response to therapies are compatible with the diagnosis. We describe a 32-year-old previously healthy woman presenting with a 2 year history of steroid-responsive relapsing episodes lasting 2-10 days characterized by transient visual blurring, right-hemiparesis, and spells of aphasia. MRI demonstrated multifocal, relapsing, predominantly white matter enhancing brain lesions, a longitudinally extensive cord lesion, and abnormal visual evoked potentials. Notably, some lesions persistently enhanced whereas others demonstrated progressive T2W hypointensity. Brain biopsy revealed an atypical plasma cell infiltrate and crystal-storing histiocytosis, which by mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of macrophages containing intracellular kappa-light chain restricted crystals. Bone marrow was negative. The patient did well for several years on pulse dexamethasone, however subsequent scans demonstrated increasing enhancement. Repeat biopsy demonstrated a clonal plasma cell proliferation. She was treated with melphalan, and has remained stable. Although this patient initially met McDonald criteria, atypical imaging prompted further workup, and advanced proteomic technology helped secured an accurate diagnosis. Crystal-storing histiocytosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory CNS disorders.