Adult pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis revealed by central diabetes insipidus: A case report and literature review

Unusual Long-Term Survival in an Adult Patient With Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and Central Nervous System Involvement: A Case Report

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in adults is a rare condition. The disease presents with focal or multifocal involvement of a single organ/system or focal or disseminated multisystem disease. Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is also infrequent, with diabetes insipidus as a common manifestation of posterior pituitary lesions. Biopsy-proven diagnosis with the observation of characteristic Langerhans cells infiltrate with positive immunohistochemistry of S100 protein, CD1a, and CD68 cells. The patient presented generalized lymphadenopathy and was diagnosed with low-risk single-system LCH-based distinctive pathological findings in a lymph node biopsy. During the disease, CNS involvement was documented and the patient received different sequential therapeutic schemes, achieving complete remission that has been maintained for 8 years. The prolonged duration of remission with disappearance of lymphadenopathy and CNS lesions in an adult patient with LCH is an unusual clinical observation.

Adult localized Langerhans cell histiocytosis: A case report

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare clonal proliferative disease of Langerhans cells with unknown pathogenesis. An increasing number of clinicians recognize that LCH has a wide clinical spectrum and a highly varied course. Adults rarely develop LCH. Here, we report a case of adult localized LCH.

CASE SUMMARY

A 32-year-old woman presented with plaques and ulcers on the vulva and crissum, accompanied by pain that persisted for more than one year. Physical examination revealed a red-infiltrating plaque with ulcerations and exudates in the vulva and crissum. Pathological examination revealed a diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes, eosinophilic granulocytes, and histiocytoid cells in the superficial dermis. Proliferative histiocytoid cells showed mild atypia, partly with kidney-shaped nuclei. Immunohistochemical examination showed that the histiocytoid cells were positive for S100 protein and CD1 and weakly positive for CD68 (20% +), with a Ki-67 index of 30%. Laboratory tests did not reveal any other systemic damage. The patient was diagnosed with adult localized LCH and was prescribed oral prednisone (20 mg) once daily. The skin lesions gradually improved and are still being followed-up.

CONCLUSION

Adult localized LCH is rare and must be differentiated from other common conditions.