title: Generalized non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis: four cases illustrate a spectrum of disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proliferation of non-Langerhans cell histiocytes is a poorly understood process of unknown cause. Variation in the clinical features and/or histopathology of histiocytic proliferation has led to subclassification of the general category of non-Langerhans cell histiocytes. Although the current classification may provide some useful generalizations in regard to the anticipated clinical course, wide variability in presentation and outcome make this classification less than optimal when dealing with individual patients. The objectives of the study were to present four cases of generalized non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records and slides of four patients diagnosed with non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis at the Cleveland Clinic are reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients exhibit features of more than one subtype of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overlap among the clinical and histologic features of the generalized cutaneous non-Langerhans cell histiocytic disorders suggests that they represent one disease entity with a wide spectrum of presentations rather than many distinct disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine of Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mullans
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Olin
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Bergfeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002699:Chlorambucil; D011241:Prednisone