Demographics and additional haematologic cancers of patients with histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms

AIMS

The discovery of somatic genetic alterations established many histiocytic disorders as haematologic neoplasms. We aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics and additional haematologic cancers of patients diagnosed with histiocytic disorders in The Netherlands.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrieved data on histiocytosis patients from the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank (Palga). During 1993 to 2022, more than 4000 patients with a pathologist-assigned diagnosis of a histiocytic disorder were registered in Palga. Xanthogranulomas were the most common subtype, challenging the prevailing assumption that Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the most common histiocytic disorder. LCH and juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) had a peak incidence in the first years of life; males were overrepresented among all histiocytosis subgroups. 118 patients had a histiocytic disorder and an additional haematologic malignancy, including 107 (91%) adults at the time of histiocytosis diagnosis. In 16/118 patients, both entities had been analysed for the same genetic alteration(s). In 11 of these 16 patients, identical genetic alterations had been detected in both haematologic neoplasms. This included two patients with PAX5 p.P80R mutated B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and secondary histiocytic sarcoma, further supporting that PAX5 alterations may predispose (precursor) B cells to differentiate into the myeloid lineage. All 4/11 patients with myeloid neoplasms as their additional haematologic malignancy had shared N/KRAS mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based study highlights the frequency of xanthogranulomas. Furthermore, our data add to the growing evidence supporting clonal relationships between histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms and additional myeloid or lymphoid malignancies. Particularly adult histiocytosis patients should be carefully evaluated for the development of these associated haematologic cancers.

Endocrine features of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in paediatric patients: A 30-year review

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disorder characterised as an inflammatory myeloid neoplasia. Endocrine manifestations of LCH, particularly central diabetes insipidus (CDI), have been described from the 1940s, through case studies and small cohort analyses. There are limited Australian paediatric data described in recent literature.

AIM

To document the incidence of endocrine features in paediatric patients with LCH, treated at a tertiary paediatric centre in Victoria, Australia.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of electronic medical records and oncology database of patients with LCH managed at a tertiary paediatric centre. Patients were excluded if a biopsy did not suggest LCH or if records were incomplete.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-one patients were identified and 141 records of patients diagnosed with LCH over the last 30 years were assessed for endocrinopathies, from diagnosis to last documented follow-up. Mean age at diagnosis was 5 years 8 months. Of these, 15% (n = 21) had CDI, 7% had growth hormone deficiency (GHD) (n = 10) and 8% (n = 11) had more than one endocrinopathy noted during follow-up. Forty percent (n = 57) were pre-pubertal at the time of audit or upon discharge from tertiary services.

CONCLUSIONS

Ongoing pituitary assessment, in addition to CDI, is required to detect evolving deficiencies of GHD and gonadotropins as these can be subtle, late or missed. Close follow-up of growth and progression through puberty, even if discharged from tertiary care, is essential.

Long-term outcomes among adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Advances in the treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) have resulted in a growing survivor population. There is a lack of data on long-term outcomes among adults with LCH. We conducted a retrospective record review of 219 adults (aged ≥18 years) with LCH. Most common presentation was multisystem (34.2%), followed by single-system pulmonary (32%), unifocal (28.3%), and single-system multifocal (5.5%) LCH. Risk organ involvement (the liver, spleen, or bone marrow) was seen in 8.7% of cases, and 40 of 88 (45.5%) tested cases were BRAFV600E. At a median follow-up of 74 months, 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 58.3% and estimated median PFS was 83 months. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached; 5- and 10-year OS rates were 88.7% and 74.5%, respectively. Risk organ involvement was associated with worse PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 4.5) and OS (HR, 10.8). BRAFV600E was not associated with risk organ involvement or survival. When compared with matched unaffected US population, individuals with LCH had a significantly higher risk of overall mortality (standardized mortality ratio [SMR], 2.66), specifically among those aged <55 years at diagnosis (SMR, 5.94) and those with multisystem disease (SMR, 4.12). Second cancers occurred in 16.4% cases, including diverse hematologic and solid organ malignancies. LCH-associated deaths constituted 36.1% of deaths and occurred within 5 years of diagnosis. After 5 years, non-LCH causes of death, including second cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular diseases, predominated. Our study highlights, to our knowledge, for the first time, that adults with LCH experience early and late mortality from non-LCH causes and the need for development of targeted survivorship programs to improve outcomes.

BRAF V600E is associated with higher incidence of second cancers in adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis

In this retrospective study, BRAF mutation status did not correlate with disease extent or (event-free) survival in 156 adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. BRAFV600E was associated with an increased incidence of second malignancies, often comprising hematological cancers, which may be clonally related.

Incidence, prevalence and survival in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis: A national registry study from England, 2013-2019

This analysis is the largest population-based study to date to provide contemporary and comprehensive epidemiological estimates of all third edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O-3) coded Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) from England. People of all ages were identified from the National Cancer Registration Dataset using ICD-O-3 morphologies 9751-9754 for neoplasms diagnosed in 2013-2019. A total of 658 patients were identified, of whom 324 (49%) were children aged <15 years. The age-standardised incidence rate was 4.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.99-4.98) per million children and 1.06 (95% CI 0.94-1.18) per million adults aged ≥15 years. Prevalence of LCH was 9.95 (95% CI 9.14-10.81) per million persons at the end of 2019. The 1-year overall survival (OS) was 99% (95% CI 97%-100%) for children and 90% (95% CI 87%-93%) for adults. Those aged ≥60 years had poorer OS than those aged <15 years (hazard ratio [HR] 22.12, 95% CI 7.10-68.94; p < 0.001). People in deprived areas had lower OS than those in the least deprived areas (HR 5.36, 95% CI 1.16-24.87; p = 0.03). There will inevitably be other environmental factors and associations yet to be identified, and the continued standardised data collection will allow further evaluation of data over time. This will be increasingly important with developments in LCH management following the large collaborative international trials such as LCH IV.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis and associated malignancies: A retrospective analysis of 270 patients

PURPOSE

The frequency of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and associated malignancies (AM) is greater than statistically expected. Here, we analyze LCH-AM co-occurrence in both children and adults.

METHODS

Between 1991 and 2015, data were collected by regular questionnaires to members of the Histiocyte Society and searches in PubMed and Abstract Books. Patients were grouped by age at LCH diagnosis (≤ and >18 years), and types and timing of AM occurrence were plotted with respect to the LCH diagnosis. For the statistical analysis, only the first AM were considered.

RESULTS

A total of 285 LCH-AM in 270 patients were identified, 116 (43%) ≤ 18 years, and 154 (57%) >18 years. In childhood LCH-AM pairs, leukemias and myeloproliferative disorders (n = 58; 50.0%) prevailed over solid tumors (n = 43; 37.1%) and lymphoma (n = 15; 12.9%). In adults, solid tumors were reported in 61 patients (39.6%), lymphoma, and leukemias and myeloproliferative disorders in 56 (36.4%) and 37 (24.0%) patients, respectively. In most children, AM followed LCH (n = 69, 59.5%), whereas in adults, LCH and AM occurred concurrently in 69 patients (44.8%). In children, T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and retinoblastoma were over-represented and thyroid carcinoma in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

The largest collection of data on LCH-AM to date clearly indicates inherent relationships between specific types of AM and LCH, which may be due to therapy effects, clonal evolution, and germ-line predisposition, respectively. Prospective thorough genetic analysis is warranted and will hopefully shed light on the association of LCH and second neoplasms.

Analysis of thyroid involvement in children and adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis: An underestimated endocrine manifestation

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease caused by the clonal expansion of CD1a+/CD207+ LCH cells. The thyroid involvement in LCH has mostly been described in case reports.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of 27 children and adult patients with thyroid LCH in our center between 2010 and 2021.

RESULTS

The incidence of thyroid LCH was 14.00% (7/50) in children and 10.10% (20/198) in adults, respectively. Among patients with thyroid involvement, 81.5% presented with diabetes insipidus (DI) as the first symptom, and 51.9% complained of neck swelling or mass. Children and adults with thyroid LCH had higher frequencies of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) (children: 100% vs. 62.8%, P=0.05; adult: 95% vs. 42.1%, P<0.001), the lung (children: 85.7% vs. 25.6%, P=0.004; adult: 70% vs. 50.6%, P=0.099), and a lower frequency of bone (children: 14.3% vs. 55.8%, P=0.049; adult: 45% vs. 73.6%, P=0.008) involvement than patients without thyroid involvement. Patients with thyroid LCH had a higher frequency of primary hypothyroidism and a lower frequency of euthyroidism than patients without it. The two major types of ultrasound imaging were diffuse (55%) and nodular type (45%). The standardized uptake value of thyroid on 18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography was 5.3-12.8. The diagnoses were confirmed using thyroid aspiration (54.5%) or surgery (45.5%). In addition, thyroid LCH combined with papillary thyroid carcinoma was not rare (2/27).

CONCLUSION

Thyroid involvement in LCH is not rare. Furthermore, identifying thyroid involvement can facilitate the pathological diagnosis of LCH. Therefore, the possibility of thyroid LCH should be fully investigated in patients with DI, primary hypothyroidism, abnormal thyroid ultrasound results, and multi-system disease. In addition, thyroid aspiration can confirm suspected thyroid LCH. Finally, special attention should be paid to evaluating HPA and pulmonary involvement in thyroid LCH.

Central diabetes insipidus in children: Diagnosis and management

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a complex disorder in which large volumes of dilute urine are excreted due to arginine-vasopressin deficiency, and it is caused by a variety of conditions (genetic, congenital, inflammatory, neoplastic, traumatic) that arise mainly from the hypothalamus. The differential diagnosis between diseases presenting with polyuria and polydipsia is challenging and requires a detailed medical history, physical examination, biochemical approach, imaging studies and, in some cases, histological confirmation. Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard method for evaluating the sellar-suprasellar region in CDI. Pituitary stalk size at presentation is variable and can change over time, depending on the underlying condition, and other brain areas or other organs - in specific diseases - may become involved during follow up. An early diagnosis and treatment are preferable in order to avoid central nervous system damage and the risk of dissemination of germ cell tumor, or progression of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, and in order to start treatment of additional pituitary defects without further delay. This review focuses on current diagnostic work-up and on the role of neuroimaging in the differential diagnosis of CDI in children and adolescents. It provides an update on the best approach for diagnosis - including novel biochemical markers such as copeptin - treatment and follow up of children and adolescents with CDI; it also describes the best approach to challenging situations such as post-surgical patients, adipsic patients, patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or in critical care.

Descriptive Analysis of Histiocytic and Dendritic Cell Neoplasms: A Single-Institution Experience

PURPOSE

Histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms are rare hematologic tumors. This study aimed to describe the epidemiologic features of the entire spectrum of histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms, including clinicopathological variables and patient outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We comprehensively reviewed 274 patients who were diagnosed with histiocytic and dendritic neoplasms at Severance Hospital, Seoul, South Korea between 1995 and 2018.

RESULTS

The most common neoplasm was Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), followed by dermal xanthogranuloma. Among non-LCH sarcomas, histiocytic sarcoma (HS) showed a relatively high prevalence, followed by follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS). Disseminated juvenile xanthogranuloma (DJG), Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), indeterminate dendritic cell tumor (IDCT), and interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) rarely occurred. Generally, these tumors presented in childhood, although the non-LCH sarcoma (HS/FDCS/IDCS/IDCT) group of tumors and ECD occurred in late adulthood. Multiorgan involvement and advanced Ann-Arbor stage, as well as recurrence and death of disease, were not uncommon. The non-LCH sarcoma group had the worst overall survival, compared to the DJG, ECD, and LCH groups.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms exhibit heterogeneous epidemiologic characteristics and that some patients may have unfavorable outcomes, especially those with non-LCH sarcoma.

Clinical features and outcomes of adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a single-center experience

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonally expanding neoplasm characterized by the accumulation of CD1a + CD207 + myeloid dendritic cells. As LCH is a rare disease and is presumed to mainly affect children, the clinical features and treatment outcomes of adult LCH have been poorly documented. We retrospectively reviewed 53 adult patients with LCH who were referred to the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo from 2005 to 2018. The median age at diagnosis was 42 years with a slight female predominance (57%). The time between onset and diagnosis varied among patients (median, 8 months; range, 0-144 months). In total, 40% of the patients had single organ involvement and 60% had multiple organ involvement. Overall, the most frequently affected organ was bone (62%), followed by the central nervous system (34%), and the lung (28%). Twenty-six patients required systemic treatment, and 25 patients underwent the Special C regimen. Twenty patients (80%) who underwent Special C regimen showed a partial response or better with favorable toxicity. All but one patient is still alive. Median progression-free survival has not been reached despite a median follow-up of 35.5 months. Immunohistochemistry revealed that 39% of patients were positive for BRAF-V600E, which was a lower proportion than in previous reports from North America and Europe.

Endocrine manifestations in a cohort of 63 adulthood and childhood onset patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis

OBJECTIVE

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare inflammatory myeloid neoplasm which can infiltrate any organ or tissue. Endocrine involvement has mostly been described in case reports and small retrospective studies. We aimed to describe endocrine manifestations in a large cohort of adulthood onset (AO) and childhood onset (CO) patients with LCH.

DESIGN

Single-center observational study conducted between January 2002 and December 2017 at Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital (Paris, France), a tertiary care hospital.

METHOD

Clinical, biological and morphological evaluations of pituitary, gonadal, adrenal and thyroid function evaluations performed in 63 consecutive patients with LCH (AO patients: 40, CO patients: 23). Fifty-eight patients underwent follow-up assessments.

RESULTS

Complete pituitary evaluation was performed in 38/63 patients (60.3%); at least one anterior pituitary dysfunction (APD) was found in 63.2% of them. In this subgroup of patients, the most prevalent deficiencies were diabetes insipidus (DI) and GHD (55.3% each), followed by gonadotropin deficiency (34.2%) and thyrotropin deficiency (23.7%). In the subgroup of the 25 incompletely evaluated patients, we found DI in 44%, GHD in 50%, gonadotropin deficiency in 30.4% and thyrotropin deficiency in 16%. APD was more common in CO patients (P = 0.003) but was not systematically associated with DI regardless of the age of onset. Endocrine dysfunction was most often permanent; moreover, occurrence of new deficiencies has been described during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The spectrum of endocrine disorders appears to be large in LCH (both in AO and CO patients) and should be evaluated carefully at diagnosis and during follow-up. APD was not always associated with DI.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with interstitial lung diseases in Spain, 2014 to 2015

To assess characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) and to analyze patient's comorbidities, procedures, and in-hospital outcomes.We identified patients hospitalized with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and others ILD such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and sarcoidosis in Spain during 2014 and 2015.We identified 14,565 discharges among patients admitted for ILD in Spain during the study period: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 42.32% (n = 6164), sarcoidosis in 37.65% (n = 5484), hypersensitivity pneumonitis in 10.55% (n = 1538), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia in 7.06% (n = 1028), pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis in 1.48% (n = 215), and lymphangioleiomyomatosis in 0.94% (n = 136). The most common associated comorbidities according to those included in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were COPD, diabetes, and congestive heart disease. The presence of pulmonary hypertension increased the probability of dying in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (OR 1.36; 95%CI 1.06-1.73). Patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia had the longest length of hospital stay and the highest percentage of hospital readmissions (23.64%). The highest IHM corresponded to the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (14.94%). Computed tomography of the chest was the procedure more used during admissions for ILD.IPF was responsible for larger percentage of hospital admission among ILD in our study. In addition, the IHM were higher in IPF patients in comparison with those with other ILD. The most common associated comorbidity in ILD according to those included in the CCI was COPD. Computed tomography of the chest was the procedure more frequently used.

[Child Langerhans cell histiocytosis]

DEFINITION

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is defined by the association of a clinical and radiological involvement and a biopsy of a pathological tissue. Extension: it can affect any organ or system of the body but most commonly the bone (80% of cases), the skin (33%) and the pituitary (25%). Other organs are concerned such as liver, spleen, hematopoietic system and the lungs (15% each), lymph nodes (5-10%) and central nervous system (CNS) excluding the pituitary (2-4%). Natural history: the natural history of the disease is very heterogeneous, ranging from auto-regressive lesions to a disease affecting multiple organs with fatal consequences, while some lesions may be responsible for permanent sequels. A multidisciplinary approach: the perception of disease from physicians varies greatly depending on their speciality and experience, as well as the presentation of the disease or the short-term treatment outcomes. But whatever the initial view of the treating physician, a multidisciplinary approach to the LCH is recommended as well as the coordination of the necessary care of this systemic disease and its associated morbidity.

THERAPY

current treatment protocols, adapted to the situation of each patient, provide a survival of 98% in children. The sequels, such as diabetes insipidus, hormonal deficits, deafness and even more rarely respiratory failure and sclerosing cholangitis are seen in up to 30% of children.

[Adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis]

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease affecting both genders and can occur at any age. It often evolves through successive flares, and its severity varies from benign forms that don't require treatment to life threatening disease. Some patients have important functional impairment with psychological and social consequences and prolonged disability. LCH may affect only one organ, with uni- or multifocal involvement or be multisystem disease involving multiple organs. The organs most frequently involved are bones, lung, skin and the endocrinal system. Pulmonary LCH is strongly related to smoking. Some patients have mixed histocytosis combining LCH and other histiocytic disorders. The diagnosis relies on the histological study of tissues samples, and shows tissue infiltration with large cell with pale cytoplasm and reniform nucleus, staining for CD1a and Langerin (CD207) on immunohistochemistry. The BRAF^V600E mutation is observed in tissue samples in approximately half of patients and the activation of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway has been shown to be constantly activated in LCH lesions, regardless the BRAF status. These findings represent an important forward step in the understanding of the physiopathology of the disease. Treatment must be adapted to the severity of the disease and goes from conservative observation to systemic chemotherapy. Therapies targeting the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway are promising treatments for progressive disease.

Pediatric lymphomas and histiocytic disorders of childhood

Although there have been dramatic improvements in the treatment of children with non-hodgkin lymphoma, hodgkin lymphoma and histiocytic disorders over the past 3 decades, many still relapse or are refractory to primary therapy. In addition, late effects such as 2nd malignancies, cardiomyopathy and infertility remain a major concern. Thus, this review focuses on the current state of the science and, in particular, novel treatment strategies that are aimed at improving outcomes for all pediatric patients with lymphoma and histiocytic disorders while reducing treatment related morbidity.

[Temporomandibular joint primitive tumors and pseudo tumors]

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be the site of bone, cartilaginous, or synovial tumors. There is no well-defined histological classification. We listed all benign tumors, malignant primitive tumors, and rare pseudo tumors of the TMJ. We provide a list to help for the diagnosis and the differential diagnosis of non-tumoral lesions by far the most frequent.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children born 1982-2005 after in vitro fertilization

AIM

In a recent Swedish study, comparing data from the Swedish Cancer Register with the Medical Birth Register including data on IVF, an increased risk of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) was found in children born 1982-2005 after IVF. Here, we aimed to verify the LCH diagnoses and examine whether any special forms of the disease were overrepresented in this population.

METHODS

Medical records for all children with LCH conceived by IVF were acquired and the diagnosis confirmed or discarded. Disease characteristics were compared with data from children diagnosed with LCH 1992-2001 in the Stockholm County.

RESULTS

We verified LCH in seven children born after IVF, all born prior to 2002. These children did not have milder disease forms. The odds ratio (OR) to develop LCH for the whole group born after IVF was 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-7.3] and for children born before 2002, 5.2 [95% CI, 2.3-11.9], compared with children in Stockholm County 1992-2001.

CONCLUSION

LCH was overrepresented in children born after IVF prior to 2002. Affected children did not have milder disease forms. These findings may be valuable to understand LCH aetiology. Additional studies on a putative correlation between IVF and LCH in the offspring are encouraged.

Smoking-related interstitial lung diseases

Cigarette smoke, a toxic collection of thousands of chemicals generated from combustion of tobacco, is recognized as the primary causative agent of certain diffuse interstitial and bronchiolar lung diseases. Most patients afflicted with these disorders are cigarette smokers, and smoking cessation has been shown to be capable of inducing disease remission and should occupy a pivotal role in the management of all smokers with these diffuse lung diseases. The role of pharmacotherapy with corticosteroids or other immunomodulating agents is not well established but may be considered in patients with progressive forms of smoking-related interstitial lung diseases.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: bilateral temporal bone involvement in an adult with diabetes insipidus

OBJECTIVE

To present a clinical case of an adult affected by Langerhans cell histiocytosis with bilateral, non-simultaneous, involvement of the temporal bone, associated with diabetes insipidus and to review the literature.

METHODOLOGY

A rare case of bilateral temporal bone involvement of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a 42-year-old woman affected by diabetes insipidus is reported. We present patient's clinical history supported by radiologic, histopathologic and audiologic findings.

RESULTS

The patient was submitted to a series of otologic surgical procedures due to the progression of the disease. Ossicular chain was always preserved, so that conservative surgery (canal wall-up technique) was performed, permitting the achievement of good hearing results, bilaterally.

CONCLUSIONS

Temporal bone involvement of Langerhans cell histiocytosis may lead to a progressive chronic disease. However, the ossicular chain can remain uninvolved, making a conservative surgical treatment possible. Careful follow-up is essential for detecting new lesions and serial CT scans are mandatory.

Self-healing Langerhans cell histiocytosis (Hashimoto-Pritzker disease): two Tunisian cases

Self-healing Langerhans cell histiocytosis (SHLCH) is a rare self-limited variant of Langerhans cell histiocytosis that presents at birth or during the neonatal period. It was first described by Hashimoto and Pritzker in 1973. Subsequently, more than 70 cases have been reported in the literature. Regarding age of onset, SHLCH should be divided into congenital SHLCH and rare late-onset type. We report here two additional cases of SHLCH in Tunisian infants. We emphasize the need for long-term follow-up in such patients.

Herpes-virus infection in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a case-controlled sero-epidemiological study, and in situ analysis

Background

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that affects mainly young children, and which features granulomas containing Langerhans-type dendritic cells. The role of several human herpesviruses (HHV) in the pathogenesis of LCH was suggested by numerous reports but remains debated. Epstein-barr virus (EBV, HHV-4), & Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5) can infect Langerhans cells, and EBV, CMV and HHV-6 have been proposed to be associated with LCH based on the detection of these viruses in clinical samples.

Methodology

We have investigated the prevalence of EBV, CMV and HHV-6 infection, the characters of antibody response and the plasma viral load in a cohort of 83 patients and 236 age-matched controls, and the presence and cellular localization of the viruses in LCH tissue samples from 19 patients.

Principal Findings

The results show that prevalence, serological titers, and viral load for EBV, CMV and HHV-6 did not differ between patients and controls. EBV was found by PCR in tumoral sample from 3/19 patients, however, EBV small RNAs EBERs –when positive-, were detected by in situ double staining in bystander B CD20⁺ CD79a⁺ lymphocytes and not in CD1a⁺ LC. HHV-6 genome was detected in the biopsies of 5/19 patients with low copy number and viral Ag could not be detected in biopsies. CMV was not detected by PCR in this series.

Conclusions/Significance

Therefore, our findings do not support the hypothesis of a role of EBV, CMV, or HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of LCH, and indicate that the frequent detection of Epstein-barr virus (EBV) in Langerhans cell histiocytosis is accounted for by the infection of bystander B lymphocytes in LCH granuloma. The latter observation can be attributed to the immunosuppressive micro environment found in LCH granuloma.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis: experience from a single center

Clinical profile, disease-distribution and outcome of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is presented in this retrospective analysis. There were 69 children with LCH from January 1986 to December 2004. Diagnosis was presumptive in the majority. The age ranged from 2 months to 12 years. Multisystem disease was documented in 48 (69.6%) children. Evidence of hepatic dysfunction was detected in 25 (36.2%). An elevated serum alkaline phosphatase was a prominent observation in patients with hepatic involvement. Children with localized disease received oral steroids, while cases with disseminated/multi-system disease were treated with prednisolone and, vinblastine or etoposide. 20 (54%) children with disseminated disease and organ dysfunction died. A favorable outcome was documented in all but one case with localized disease. Portal hypertension developed in 3 cases, all of whom had a fatal outcome. Twelve (17.4%) patients had diabetes insipidus. Disseminated disease with organ dysfunction was observed to be a predictor of fatal outcome.

[Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the thyroid]

Langerhans histiocytosis is a disease with a very diverse clinical spectrum and a very varied prognosis. The thyroid localization is relatively rare, and raises diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Diagnosis often requires recourse to clinical, radiological and pathological confrontation. Combined medical and surgical treatment is indicated and requires close multidisciplinary cooperation. On the basis of a new observation and data in the literature, we present a progress report on the clinical and therapeutic options preferred by various authors.

Reactivation and risk of sequelae in Langerhans cell histiocytosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate disease reactivation in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and its impact on adverse sequelae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of 300 patients diagnosed with LCH between 1987 and 2002 with complete response to initial treatment was performed.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis was 5.3 years. With a mean follow-up of 4.8 years, reactivation of the disease occurred in 29.7% (89/300) of the patients, with two or more reactivations in 34.8% (31/89) of those. Reactivation occurred in 17.4, 36.8, 46.5, and 53.5% of the patients with single-system unifocal disease (Group A: 161 patients), single-system multifocal disease (Group B: 53 patients), multi-system disease without (Group C: 58 patients), and with (Group D: 28 patients) risk-organ involvement, respectively. The differences between the incidence rates of Groups A and B (P < 0.0004), A and C (P < 0.0001), and A and D (P < 0.0001) were highly significant. The most common reactivation sites involved were bone, middle ear, and skin; reactivation was rare in risk organs (9.5%). The median time between initial complete response and the first reactivation episode was 1 year for Group A, 1.3 years for Group B, and 9 months for Groups C and D. Most reactivation episodes (88%) occurred within the first 2 years of follow-up. Adverse sequelae were recognized in 242/300 patients: 71% (49/69) of patients with and 25.4% (44/173) without reactivations developed these adverse sequelae (P < 0.0001), respectively. Sites most commonly showing sequelae were bone, middle ear, and hypothalamus (Diabetes Insipidus).

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence of reactivation correlates with the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Incidence of sequelae correlates with the occurrence of reactivations.

Incidence and survival of childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis in Northwest England from 1954 to 1998

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disorder of pathological Langerhans cells, for which the aetiology and pathogenesis remain largely unknown.

PROCEDURE

Information on the 101 children with LCH registered with the population-based Manchester Children's Tumour Registry (MCTR) between 1954 and 1998 was extracted from the records of the MCTR. This included age, sex, date of diagnosis, systems affected at diagnosis and follow-up.

RESULTS

The overall incidence rate for LCH was 2.6 cases per million child years. In those under 1 year of age the incidence rate was 9.0 cases per million child years, compared to 0.7 cases per million in those aged 10-14 years (P < 0.0001 for age trend). There was no evidence of seasonal variation in presentation by month of birth or first symptom. Bone was the most common site of disease involvement (67% of cases), followed by skin (37%) and soft tissue (22%). The overall survival rate has improved over time, from 57% in 1954-1968 to 74% in 1985-1998. Ninety percent of deaths were due to disease progression, the remainder were due to complications of intensive therapy. The site of LCH lesions and extent of disease present at diagnosis strongly predicted survival outcome. Patients with initial liver involvement had a 5-year survival rate of 25% compared with 93% for those with bone lesions alone at diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence rates varied significantly by age at diagnosis, and have been stable over time. Survival has improved considerably over time, but varies strongly by age and systems affected at diagnosis.

Improved outcome in the treatment of pediatric multifocal Langerhans cell histiocytosis: Results from the Japan Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Study Group-96 protocol study

BACKGROUND

The treatment outcome of multifocal childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) has not been satisfactory and has resulted in poor therapeutic responses with high mortality and a high incidence of reactivation with late sequelae. To overcome these issues, the Japan LCH Study Group-96 (JLSG-96) protocol was conducted prospectively from 1996 to 2001 in Japan.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed children with multifocal LCH were classified into 2 groups: a single-system multisite (SS-m) group and a multisystem (MS) group. All patients initially were treated on Protocol A, which consisted of 6 weeks of induction therapy with combined cytosine arabinoside, vincristine (VCR), and prednisolone (PSL) followed by 6 months of maintenance therapy. Patients who had a poor response to the induction of Protocol A were switched to a salvage regimen (Protocol B), which consisted of an intensive combination of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, VCR, and PSL.

RESULTS

In total, 91 patients were treated, including 32 patients in the SS-m group and 59 patients in the MS group. At the median 5-year follow-up, 96.9% of patients in the SS-m group and 78.0% of patients in the MS group had good response status. Diabetes insipidus developed in 3.1% of patients in the SS-m group and in 8.9% of patients in the MS group. The overall survival rate at 5 years for the SS-m and MS groups was 100% and 94.4% +/- 3.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The JLSG-96 protocol attained very low mortality for pediatric patients with multifocal LCH.

Hungarian experience with Langerhans cell histiocytosis in childhood

The Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in children is relatively rare and the long-term analysis of therapy results has not been done yet in Hungary. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, clinical features, prognostic risk factors, and treatment results of children's LCH in Hungary in a 20-year period. Children less than 18 years of age with newly diagnosed LCH in Hungary were entered in this study. Clinical data of all children with LCH were reported to the National Childhood Cancer Registry in Hungary from 1981 to 2000. The clinical files were collected and abstracted for information regarding age at diagnosis, gender, disease characteristics, treatment, and outcome of treatment. Median follow-up duration of surviving patients is 10.98 years. Between January 1981 and December 2000, 111 children under 18 years of age were newly diagnosed with LCH in Hungary. The annual incidence of LCH in children younger than 18 years of age was 2.24/million children. The male-female ratio was 1.36:1; the mean age was 4 years 11 months. Thirty-eight children had localized disease and in 73 cases systemic dissemination was found already at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-two patients were treated only by local surgery, 7 by surgery with local irradiation, and 5 children got only local irradiation. In 2 cases remission was achieved with local steroid administration. Seventy-five patients received chemotherapy. In the 20 years of the study 14 children died, 9 due to the progression of the disease. Sixteen patients had relapse with a mean of 2.16 +/- 1.29 years after the first diagnosis. Three patients with relapse got chemotherapy generally used in lymphoma and remission was achieved. The overall survival of all patients (n = 111) was 88.3 +/- 3.1% at 5 years and 87.3 +/- 3.2% at 10 and 20 years. Childhood LCH is a well-treatable disease and the survival rate is high. Even disseminated diseases have a quite good prognosis in childhood.

Histiocytosis and bone: experience from one major Sydney teaching hospital

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) has diverse presentations which can bring it before all physicians regardless of specialty. A retrospective audit was undertaken at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia, to ascertain the incidence, epidemiology and clinical features of patients with LCH over a 10-year period (1994-2004). A total of 12 patients was identified (six male, six female). Eleven patients had involvement of the skeletal system, three of the patients had pulmonary LCH and only one patient presented with soft tissue involvement (nose and antrum). Three patients had diabetes insipidus. Our results are consistent with that noted in the published literature and confirm the low incidence, diverse nature of presentation and the differing treatment strategies available for this rare and yet interesting condition.

An integrated clinical approach to diffuse cystic lung diseases

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Langerhans cell Histiocytosis are two different diseases that can involve the lungs, with unknown etiology and origin. Both are rare, present a similar radiological pattern (multiple nodules and cysts in the lungs) and may have a similar clinical presentation, with progressive dyspnea, hemoptysis, pneumothorax and a variable course usually culminating in respiratory failure. Due to these similarities a differential diagnosis may be difficult in some instances. This review underlines differences in epidemiology, pathogenesis and prognosis that could assist clinicians in making a differential diagnosis of these rare and severe pulmonary diseases.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis in neonates

BACKGROUND

To study the incidence, clinical patterns, course, and outcome of neonatal Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).

PROCEDURE

Retrospective analysis of the data of the Austrian/German/Swiss/Netherlands LCH Study Group. The incidence of neonatal LCH was estimated with the data from the population-based German Childhood Cancer Registry.

RESULTS

The estimated incidence of neonatal LCH (LCH diagnosed within 28 days after birth) in the population-based registry was 1-2/1,000,000. In 61/1,069 trial patients (6%), the first disease manifestations were observed in the neonatal period. However, in only 20 of them, the diagnosis was established within this period. There was a preponderance of multisystem (MS)-LCH 36/61 (59%). Cutaneous changes were the most common initial manifestation in both, single-system (SS)-LCH (92%), and MS-LCH (86%). In 72% of the MS-LCH patients, risk organs (ROs) were involved at diagnosis as well. The probability of survival at 5 years was 94% in SS-LCH and 57% in MS-LCH, which is significantly lower than in older age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to the available literature, neonatal LCH is characterized by a clear predominance of MS-LCH. Cutaneous changes are the most common initial manifestation in neonates with both SS-LCH and MS-LCH. Prompt evaluation of disease extent upon diagnosis is mandatory for risk-adapted treatment. The disease course is unpredictable upon diagnosis. Close monitoring for disease progression is mandatory if isolated cutaneous LCH is managed by the "wait and see" approach. Neonates with MS-LCH, especially those with RO involvement at diagnosis, have less favorable prognosis compared to infants and older children, and need systemic therapy.

A single-centre study can improve our knowledge of a rare disease! As exemplified by studies in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis

The main contribution of this clinical study of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is that it provides information on the adult outcome of patients diagnosed during childhood.

CONCLUSION

The authors show that most patients, sometimes despite their sequelae, undertake higher education and live as independent adults. This study also offers evidence that some sequelae are due to radiotherapy, which should therefore be excluded from the treatment of LCH. The analysis of causes of death shows the important role of haematological dysfunction.

[Experiences with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in children in Hungary]

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in children is relatively rare, and the long-term analysis of therapy results has not been done yet in Hungary.

PURPOSE

In this review we summarise the incidence, clinical features, prognostic risk factors and treatment results of children's LCH in Hungary, using data from the National Childhood Cancer Registry in Hungary in a 20-year period between 1981 and 2000.

RESULTS

From January 1981 to December 2000, 111 children under 18 years of age were newly diagnosed with LCH in Hungary. The male-female ratio was 1.36:1, the mean age: 4 years 11 months. The minimal and median follow-up time was 3.48 years and 10.98 years respectively. 38 children had single-system disease, while in 73 cases we found systemic dissemination already at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-two patients were treated only by local surgery, 7 by surgery with local irradiation and 5 children received only local irradiation. In two cases remission was obtained with local steroid administration. 75 patient received chemotherapy. During the twenty years 14 children died, 9 due to the progression of the disease. Sixteen of the 111 patients had relapse with a mean of 2.16+/-1.29 years after the first diagnosis. Three patients with relapse got chemotherapy generally used in lymphoma and remission was achieved. The overall survival of all patients (n=111) was 88.3+/-3.1% at 5 years and 87.3+/-3.2% at 10 and 20 years.

CONCLUSION

Childhood LCH is a well treatable disease and the survival rate is high. Even disseminated diseases have a quite good prognosis in childhood.

From the Archives of the AFIP

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is an isolated form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis that primarily affects cigarette smokers. PLCH is characterized by peribronchiolar proliferation of Langerhans cell infiltrates that form stellate nodules. The nodular lesions frequently cavitate and form thick- and thin-walled cysts, which are thought to represent enlarged airway lumina. PLCH lesions display temporal microscopic heterogeneity, with progression from dense cellular nodules to apparently cavitary nodules to increasing degrees of fibrosis that may extend along alveolar walls. In advanced cases, fibrotic scars are surrounded by enlarged, distorted air spaces. Affected patients are typically young adults who often present with cough and dyspnea. The characteristic radiographic features of PLCH are bilateral nodular and reticulonodular areas of opacity that predominantly involve the upper and middle lung zones with relative sparing of the lung bases. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) shows nodules and cysts in the same distribution and allows a confident prospective diagnosis of PLCH in the appropriate clinical setting. In typical cases, a predominantly nodular pattern is seen on CT scans in early phases of the disease, whereas a cystic pattern predominates in later phases. The radiologic abnormalities may regress, resolve completely, become stable, or progress to advanced cystic changes. Treatment consists of smoking cessation, but corticosteroid therapy may be useful in selected patients. Chemotherapeutic agents and lung transplantation may be offered to patients with advanced disease. The prognosis of PLCH is variable with frequent regression, stabilization, or recurrence of disease that does not correlate with cessation or continuation of smoking.

Permanent consequences in Langerhans cell histiocytosis patients: a pilot study from the Histiocyte Society-Late Effects Study Group

BACKGROUND

Permanent consequences (PC) are often described among subjects with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) but data on the real incidence are scarce. Within the Histiocyte Society (HS), and in order to design a definitive late effects study, a retrospective survey was organized to describe the prevalence of PC among long-term survivors of LCH.

METHODS

Nine institutions contributed with their LCH patients having a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Information was collected on their disease-history, and on type and date of onset of any PC. Because of the retrospective type of this study, it was accepted that each institution might have used different criteria to assess PC.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-two subjects were registered and in 95 (52%) at least 1 PC was reported. For some specific PC (e.g., anterior pituitary dysfunction) information was too scarce to provide reliable data. PC were more frequent among subjects with multisystem (MS) disease (71%), compared to those with single system (SS) disease (24%); P < 0.0001. The most frequently reported PC were diabetes insipidus (DI) (24%) orthopedic abnormalities (20%), hearing loss (13%), and neurological consequences (11.0%). Analysis of cumulative risk showed that some types of PC may become manifest more than 10 years from diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey on selected cases of LCH survivors has confirmed that late sequels are frequent, and that they are even more common among those with MS LCH. Our findings highlight the need for long-term and patient-oriented follow-up in children with LCH.

[Pulmonary Langerhans-cell histiocytosis in adults]

Pulmonary Langerhans'cell histiocytosis belongs to the spectrum of the Langerhans'cell histiocytosis. The common point is tissue infiltration by Langerhans' cell granuloma. But the pulmonary type occurs predominantly in young adults and is associated with tobacco. The most frequently encountered symptoms are cough and dyspnea. Twenty-five to 35% of the cases are incidental findings. 20% of cases present with extra-thoracic lesions including skin, bone and hypothalamo-pituitary axis. On scanning images the lung parenchyma is infiltrated at the beginning by stellar nodules of less than 10 mm, which evolve either gradually to form cysts or towards remission, spontaneous or induced by the treatment. With pulmonary function testing, the two types of anomalies (obstruction and restriction) are observed. The reduction in diffusing capacity observed in 60 to 90% of the cases reflects the pulmonary vascular involvement. Detection of more than 5% of CD-1a cells in bronchioloalveolar lavage fluid and transbronchial biopsies are not sensitive. Treatment is controversial and includes primarily smoking cessation and corticosteroid therapy at the early nodular stage.

Incidence of growth hormone deficiency in pediatric-onset Langerhans cell histiocytosis: efficacy and safety of growth hormone treatment

We retrospectively studied 61 patients with GH deficiency (GHD), identified among 589 patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) enrolled in a nationwide survey between 1993 and 2001. Overall, 141 patients in the survey developed diabetes insipidus. The median follow-up of the 61 patients with GHD was 12 yr. The 5- and 10-yr risks of GHD among patients with diabetes insipidus were 34.7 +/- 4.5% and 53.7 +/- 5.2%, respectively. Growth velocity decreased soon after LCH diagnosis in patients who developed GHD, and anterior pituitary height, estimated by magnetic resonance imaging, was significantly reduced relative to patients who remained free of GHD. GH replacement therapy was administered to 47 of the 61 patients with GHD. Among GH-treated patients, median final height (-0.8 SD) was significantly greater than median height at GHD diagnosis (-1.6 SD) but remained below midparental (target) height. Among patients with pituitary involvement, the number of LCH disease episodes appeared not significantly influenced by GHD or GH administration, suggesting an absence of deleterious effect of GH therapy on LCH disease activity.

Extra-osseous involvement of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in children

The predominant clinical and radiological features of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) in children are due to osseous involvement. Extra-osseous disease is far less common, occurring in association with bone disease or in isolation; nearly all anatomical sites may be affected and in very various combinations. The following article is based on a multicentre review of 31 children with extra-osseous LCH. The objective is to summarise the diverse possibilities of organ involvement. The radiological manifestations using different imaging modalities are rarely pathognomonic on their own. Nevertheless, familiarity with the imaging findings, especially in children with systemic disease, may be essential for early diagnosis.

Multiple lung nodules in a woman with a history of melanoma

A 61-year-old Caucasian female presented with a 6-week history of dry persistent cough. She had no shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, chills, or weight loss. She had been diagnosed with melanoma on the left thigh 6 months earlier. It was a spindle cell variant, Clark's grade III, with maximal thickness of 0.5 mm. At the time of diagnosis of melanoma, there was no evidence of metastasis on chest radiographs or computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis. Treatment of her melanoma was limited to surgical excision with no subsequent radiation or chemotherapy. Other significant past medical history included hypertension, hypothyroidism, and bilateral breast augmentation. She had a 40 pack-year history of smoking.

[Adult pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis]

INTRODUCTION

Adult pulmonary Langerhans'cell histiocytosis, also referred to as histiocytosis X, is a disorder of unknown etiology which affects preferentially young smokers. The disease is characterized by granulomatous lesions which progressively invade and destroy distal airways, leading to the formation of characteristic cicatricial kystic lesions. Florid granulomas contain numerous Langerhans'cells, antigen-presenting cells of the dendritic cell lineage, associated with T lymphocytes and eosinophils. The diagnosis rests on the combination of clinical and radiologic data, and particularly on high-resolution CT scan findings showing a typical association of nodular and cystic changes, predominantly in the upper and middle lobes. Further evaluation with surgical lung biopsy is indicated in less typical situations.

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS

The pathogenesis of Langerhans'cell histiocytosis is not fully understood, but several arguments suggest that the disease results from an abnormal immune reaction initiated by Langerhans'cells and directed against the bronchial epithelium. Other arguments suggest the presence of genetic abnormalities susceptible, for example, to increase the sensitivity of these cells to cytokines (GM-CSF, or others) known to influence their survival and maturation.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS

These recent advances in the pathogenesis of Langerhans'cell histiocytosis could promote the development of new therapeutic strategies designed to regulate the number and activated state of Langerhans'cells in specific lesions.

[Clinical course and therapy of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children and adults]

The Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disease with a clear preference of infancy and an incidence of 0.2 to 1.0/100,000 children occurring worldwide. In 60 to 70% of the cases the first manifestation is before the second year of age. The disease prefers the male sex in a male to female relation of 2:1. Occurrence in adult age is very rare. Up to 10% of the cases are congenital. Both the etiology and the pathogenesis of the disease are unknown. The clinical presentation is extremely variable and covers a wide spectrum from localized involvement with a favorable prognosis to disseminated, malignant and foudroyant course. We report on ten patients, six infants and children and four adolescents and adults. We point out the very variable morphologic manifestations, the different disease course and the therapeutic options.

Childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis increased during El Niño 1997-98: a report from the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group

From 1995-1999, a nation-wide study of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in children less than 15 years old was conducted by the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group. The demographic and clinical data of 55 cases were analyzed. Thirty-two cases presented from the beginning of 1997 to the end of 1998, when the most severe El Niño in the century occurred. The incidence was higher than expected during this El Niño period (32 cases versus 22 cases, p = 0.003). During 1997-98, most LCH was diagnosed in summer (n = 15), autumn (n = 8), and winter (n = 8) but rarely in spring (n = 1); coincidentally, rainfall was least in winter but peaked in summer. During 1997-98, the most significant increase occurred in the polyostotic LCH subcategory (p = 0.017), with younger ages at diagnosis (p = 0.039). The incidence of LCH cytopenia, fever, and diseases of the skin, liver, spleen or other organs did not differ significantly. Local treatment modality, disseminated diseases and diagnosis during the El Niño of 1997-98 were independent risk factors predicting the recurrence or progression of LCH. Our findings suggest that particular infections or other environmental factors associated with El Niño might be related to the etiology of childhood LCH.