title: Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
abstract: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a complex disease entity comprised of three distinct clinical syndromes that demonstrate indistinguishable histology. These syndromes are: eosinophilic granuloma, which is predominantly osseous or pulmonary; Hand-Schûller-Christian's disease, which involves multiple organ systems and, most typically, the skull base; and Letterer-Siwe's disease, the most severe disease manifestation, which typically involves the abdominal viscera. This article reviews our current understanding of Langerhans cell histiocytosis by discussing the history, histology, etiology, and treatment of the disease. It focuses on the radiographic findings and imaging modalities that are the most useful in disease diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Yawkey 6E 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. kbhoover@partners.org
authors.forename: Kevin Bradford
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.forename: Daniel I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mankin
mesh_terms: D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*