Malignant histiocytosis differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Differentiating Malignant histiocytosis from other Diseases

A histiocyte is a differentiated tissue cell that has its origin in the bone marrow. The source for histiocytes is the monocyte/macrophage line. Monocytes (found in the blood) and macrophages (found in tissue) are responsible for phagocytosis (ingestion) of foreign material in the body. Langerhans cells are dendritic cells found in the skin and function by internalizing antigens (foreign particles) and presenting them to T cells. They arise from monocytes.^[1] Histiocytic disorders refer to diseases that are caused by abnormal behavior of these cells. They include the following:

Reactive diseases of Langerhans cells
- Histiocytomas
- Cutaneous histiocytosis
- Systemic histiocytosis
Reactive diseases of macrophages
- Hemophagocytic syndrome – a condition where macrophages phagocytose myeloid and erythroid precursors (similar to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in humans)
Malignant diseases of Langerhans dells
- Malignant histiocytosis
- Diffuse histiocytic sarcoma
- Localized histiocytic sarcoma
Malignant diseases of macrophages
- Histiocytic lymphoma

References

↑ Ginhoux F, Tacke F, Angeli V, Bogunovic M, Loubeau M, Dai XM, Stanley ER, Randolph GJ, Merad M (2006). “Langerhans cells arise from monocytes in vivo”. Nat. Immunol. 7 (3): 265–73. PMID 16444257.

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[1] Ginhoux F, Tacke F, Angeli V, Bogunovic M, Loubeau M, Dai XM, Stanley ER, Randolph GJ, Merad M (2006). “Langerhans cells arise from monocytes in vivo”. Nat. Immunol. 7 (3): 265–73. PMID 16444257.

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