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Langerhans' cell histiocytosis
Clinical Picture
Langerhans' cell histiocytosis Nicola Fazio, Lorenzo Spaggiari, Giuseppe Pelosi, Fabio Presicci, Lorenzo Preda Lancet 2005; 365: 598 European Institute of Oncology (N Fazio MD, L Spaggiari MD, G Pelosi MD, F Presicci MD, L Preda MD), 20141 Milan, Italy Correspondence to:Nicola Fazio [email protected]
598
A 38-year-old woman complained of persistent chest pain. A plain radiograph showed an irregularity on the sternum, and bone-scan showed uptake only in that area. Thoracic-abdominal CT showed an osteolytic lesion of the sternum (figure) without any other signs of neoplasia. After failing to reach a diagnosis with fineneedle aspiration and excisional biopsy we did a partial sternectomy with bilateral resection of the third, fourth, and fifth sternochondral junctions and reconstructed the chest wall. The surgical specimen showed Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Solitary osseous lesions of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis may look like a malignant tumour radiographically, but can be cured by surgical resection or radiotherapy.
www.thelancet.com Vol 365 February 12, 2005
Langerhans' cell histiocytosis Nicola Fazio, Lorenzo Spaggiari, Giuseppe Pelosi, Fabio Presicci, Lorenzo Preda Lancet 2005; 365: 598 European Institute of Oncology (N Fazio MD, L Spaggiari MD, G Pelosi MD, F Presicci MD, L Preda MD), 20141 Milan, Italy Correspondence to:Nicola Fazio [email protected]
598
A 38-year-old woman complained of persistent chest pain. A plain radiograph showed an irregularity on the sternum, and bone-scan showed uptake only in that area. Thoracic-abdominal CT showed an osteolytic lesion of the sternum (figure) without any other signs of neoplasia. After failing to reach a diagnosis with fineneedle aspiration and excisional biopsy we did a partial sternectomy with bilateral resection of the third, fourth, and fifth sternochondral junctions and reconstructed the chest wall. The surgical specimen showed Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Solitary osseous lesions of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis may look like a malignant tumour radiographically, but can be cured by surgical resection or radiotherapy.
www.thelancet.com Vol 365 February 12, 2005