title: Presentation of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis before the development of lung cysts.
abstract: Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) affects mainly young, predominantly smoking adults with a peak at 20-40 years of age. Patients with PLCH often present with a nonproductive cough and/or dyspnea. High-resolution CT (HRCT) is the most important diagnostic modality in PLCH. The typical HRCT pattern combines small poorly limited nodules, cavitated nodules, and finally thick- and thin-walled cysts. In rare cases, HRCT enables PLCH to be diagnosed prior to the development of cysts.
authors.affiliation: Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario La Fe Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Llatjós
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alarza
authors.affiliation: Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molina
keywords: Interstitial lung disease; pathology; rare lung diseases