title: Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the maxillofacial area in adults. Report of three cases.
abstract: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by proliferation of pathological Langerhans cells within different organs. It mainly affects children, but adult cases also occur, with an incidence rate of one to two per million. The head and neck are affected in almost 90% of cases. Diagnosis is made by means of histopathological analysis, and imaging studies are necessary in order to determine extent of the disease. There are no controlled trials proposing an optimal treatment protocol for LCH. Prognosis in adults is generally good due to the slow evolution of the disease and its favourable response to treatment. In our report, we present three cases of LCH in patients aged 16, 24, and 28 years respectively, with primary manifestation in the maxillofacial area. A literature review was also conducted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Albacete University Hospital, Albacete, Spain. pepio2@hotmail.com
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García de Marcos
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dean Ferrer
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alamillos Granados
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz Masera
authors.forename: Gracia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrios Sánchez
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Romero Ortiz
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Calderón Bohórquez
authors.forename: Borja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valenzuela Salas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery