A flow cytometric study of Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), or histiocytosis X, is now generally considered to be a non-malignant condition. A flow cytometric (FCM) study of a single case has, however, been published which claimed to provide evidence to contradict this. The presence of DNA-ploidy as detected using this technique is a feature of malignant and pre-malignant disease. In this reported single case, DNA-ploidy was present but the clinical features of this patient were atypical for LCH. We have performed a FCM study of the DNA of nine biopsies of LCH lesions from six patients with well-established disease. In addition, in one of these, fresh tissue studies including the use of an anti-CD I monoclonal antibody to specifically label the LCH cells were performed. In all cases the DNA content of the cells was entirely normal. We therefore found no evidence that LCH is a neoplastic disorder.
McLelland
J
J
Dermatology Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, U.K.
Newton
J
J
Malone
M
M
Camplejohn
R S
RS
Chu
A C
AC
D000328:Adult; D002469:Cell Separation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
D004247:DNA