Combined Erdheim-Chester disease and Langerhans cell histiocytosis of skin are both monoclonal: a rare case with human androgen-receptor gene analysis.
BACKGROUND
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare xanthogranulomatous histiocytic disorder. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a proliferative disorder of histiocytes with a phenotype similar to dendritic Langerhans cells. Both are derived from myeloid stem cells in the bone marrow and, thus, can overlap.


OBJECTIVE
We report a rare case of hybrid LCH and ECD of the skin with systemic ECD.


METHODS
Pathologic examinations and human androgen-receptor gene assay were used to study this case.


RESULTS
A 34-year-old woman presented with recurrent ulcerative skin lesions on both thighs associated with polydipsia and polyuria since childhood. Radiography revealed osteosclerosis of bilateral distal tibias and soft tissue masses of bilateral chest walls and ankles. Pathologically, the chest wall lesions showed dense aggregates of lipid-laden histiocytes, which were CD68(+)/CD163(+)/S100(-)/CD1a(-). Combined with the clinical and radiographic findings, this xanthogranulomatous infiltrate was consistent with ECD. However, thigh skin showed discrete foci of a xanthogranulomatous infiltrate and S100(+)/CD1a(+) Langerhans cells with eosinophils. In addition, Birbeck granules were found. Dissected tissues from both ECD and LCH were monoclonal, supporting their neoplastic nature.


CONCLUSIONS
Single case report is a limitation.


CONCLUSIONS
ECD and LCH may have a close association with divergent differentiation from the same stem cells under different microenvironmental conditions.
Tsai
Jen-Wei
JW
Department of Anatomic Pathology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.
Tsou
Jen-Hui
JH
Hung
Liang-Yi
LY
Wu
Hung-Bo
HB
Chang
Kung-Chao
KC
D000328:Adult; D031249:Erdheim-Chester Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010026:Osteosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011859:Radiography; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
D011944:Receptors, Androgen