title: Subtle clues to diagnosis by histochemistry. Histiocytosis X.
abstract: Characteristic mononuclear cells with distorted nuclei and abundant pale-staining cytoplasms together with osteoclast-like giant cells are the cytologic hallmarks of histiocytosis X. The demonstration of acid phosphatase within giant cells in paraffin-embedded sections is a valuable aid to diagnosis. The histologic differential diagnosis of histiocytosis X includes some allergic granulomas, Hodgkin's disease, myelomonocytic leukemia, mastocytosis, and malignant histiocytosis. Some technical prerequisites for accurate diagnosis of histiocytosis X are considered briefly.
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry
chemical_list: D000135:Acid Phosphatase