title: Histiocytosis X: an oral diagnostic problem.
abstract: A case of prepubertal periodontitis in a 6 1/2-year-old boy is described. Following failure to respond to conventional treatment including scaling, oral hygiene instruction and tetracycline therapy, a biopsy was performed and root planing carried out. The biopsy revealed histiocytic infiltration and a diagnosis of Histiocytosis X of the Hand-Schüller-Christian type was made. This case emphasises the role of biopsy in establishing a diagnosis in cases of prepubertal periodontitis that do not respond to conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Dentistry and Orthodontics, University of Birmingham, Dental School, St. Chad's Queensway, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Glenwright
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*