Pelvic lymph node histiocytosis mimicking metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma: association with hip prostheses.
OBJECTIVE
Histological changes in lymph nodes simulating metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma are reported.


METHODS
Lymph node frozen sections from 3 patients with prostatic cancer displayed marked histiocytosis. This tissue was subjected to histochemical, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies.


RESULTS
Only 1 erroneous diagnosis of metastasis was made. All patients had hip prostheses for at least 6 years. Tissue replacing up to 80% of lymph nodes consisted of histiocytes containing large amounts of polyethylene.


CONCLUSIONS
Hip replacement predisposes the patient to have pelvic lymph node histiocytosis mimicking metastatic adenocarcinoma. This history should be communicated to the pathologist. Polyethylene is the most important factor in the cause of post-prosthesis lymph node histiocytosis.
Bjornsson
B L
BL
Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
Truong
L D
LD
Cartwright
J
J
Abrams
J
J
Rutledge
M L
ML
Wheeler
T M
TM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015614:Histiocytosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*