title: Intestinal occlusion caused by Rosai-Dorfman disease mimicking colonic diverticulitis.
abstract: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) involves the gastrointestinal tract only in exceptional cases, and this very unusual site of presentation can confuse the pathologist. We present a case of RDD manifesting as an intestinal occlusion caused by colonic diverticulitis. The patient was a 79-year-old man with myelodysplasia, who presented with fever, abdominal pain, and constipation. Colonoscopy revealed sigmoiditis and diverticulosis. Microscopic study of the sigmoid colon surgical specimen showed the histological and immunological features of RDD. No human DNA of herpesvirus types 6 and 8 (HHV6/HHV8), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) was detected in tissue by polymerase chain reaction. Electron microscopic study revealed no microbes or viral particles. Widespread nodal and extranodal RDD occurred, and the patient died 2y after initial surgery. The etiology of RDD is still under debate. We discuss the association of RDD with hematological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 30 avenue de la voie romaine, Louis Pasteur Hospital, 06002 Nice, France.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lassalle
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cheikh-Rouhou
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Jean Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lacour
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hofman
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D003248:Constipation / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000473:pathology*; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D015618:Histiocytosis, Sinus / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology