Histiocytosis and bone: experience from one major Sydney teaching hospital

• Published in: Internal medicine journal 2005-10, Vol.35 (10), p.622-625
• Main Authors: Geevasinga, N., Jeremy, R., Crombie, C. M., Manolios, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; bone; Bone Diseases - epidemiology; Bone Diseases - etiology; Bone Diseases - pathology; eosinophilic granuloma; Female; General aspects; Hand-Schuller-Christian disease; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; histiocytosis; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell - complications; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell - epidemiology; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell - pathology; Hospitals, Teaching - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Incidence; Langerhans cell; Letterer-Siwe disease; Male; Medical sciences; New South Wales - epidemiology; Other diseases. Hematologic involvement in other diseases; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1444-0903; 1445-5994
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2005.00907.x

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) has diverse presentations which can bring it before all physicians regardless of specialty. A retrospective audit was undertaken at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia, to ascertain the incidence, epidemiology and clinical features of patients with LCH over a 10‐year period (1994–2004). A total of 12 patients was identified (six male, six female). Eleven patients had involvement of the skeletal system, three of the patients had pulmonary LCH and only one patient presented with soft tissue involvement (nose and antrum). Three patients had diabetes insipidus. Our results are consistent with that noted in the published literature and confirm the low incidence, diverse nature of presentation and the differing treatment strategies available for this rare and yet interesting condition. (Intern Med J 2005; 35: 622–625)