Langerhans cell histiocytosis of skin: a clinicopathologic analysis of five cases.
OBJECTIVE
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disorder of histiocytes characterized by a proliferation of abnormal and clonal Langerhans cells. We retrospectively studied clinicopathologic features of this disorder in five cases.


METHODS
Clinical and histopathological findings of five cases of cutaneous LCH were reviewed based on the hospital records.


RESULTS
The age of patients ranged from 28 days to 5 years and M: F ratio was 1:1.5. Clinically, the diagnoses suggested were histiocytosis, varicella, transient neonatal pustular melanosis, keloid, sarcoidosis, seborrheic keratosis and LCH. The most common type of skin lesion was a generalized papular lesion. Histologically, all cases showed aggregates of large mononuclear histiocytes (Langerhans cells) with reniform, irregular, cleaved nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. There was multi-systemic involvement in two patients and single-system involvement in three patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Cutaneous lesions may be the sole presenting feature of LCH. Diagnosis is based on demonstration of S-100 positive histiocytes.
Punia
Rajpal Singh
RS
Department of Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Chandigarh, India.
Bagai
Maneesh
M
Mohan
Harsh
H
Thami
G P
GP
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology