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Histiocytosis

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

Overview

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

Overview

In medicine, histiocytosis is an excessive number of histiocytes,that is an excessive number of tissue macrophages, and is typically used to refer to a group of rare diseases which share this as a characteristic. Occasionally and confusingly it is sometimes used to refer to individual diseases. Histiocytosis (and malignant histiocytosis) are both important in veterinary as well as human pathology.

References

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Classification

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

Overview

Classification

There are competing systems for classifying histiocytoses. According to the 1999 classification proposed by the World Health Organization, they can be divided into three categories.[1]. However, the classifications in ICD10 and MeSH are slightly different, as shown below:

Name WHO ICD10 MeSH
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) I D76.0 Langerhans-cell histiocytosis
Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) II D76.3 non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) II D76.1 non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis
Niemann-Pick disease E75.2 non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis
Sea-blue histiocyte syndrome non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis
Acute monocytic leukemia III C93.0 malignant histiocytic disorders
Malignant histiocytosis III C96.1 malignant histiocytic disorders
Erdheim-Chester disease C96.1 malignant histiocytic disorders

Types of LCH have also been known as “Eosinophilic Granuloma“, “Hand-Schuller-Christian Disease“, “Letterer-Siwe Disease“, and “Histiocytosis X“. (See LCH history for details).

References

  1. Harris N, Jaffe E, Diebold J, Flandrin G, Muller-Hermelink H, Vardiman J, Lister T, Bloomfield C (1999). “The World Health Organization classification of neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Report of the Clinical Advisory Committee meeting, Airlie House, Virginia, November, 1997”. Ann Oncol. 10 (12): 1419–32. PMID 10643532.

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Pathophysiology

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References

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Causes

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References

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Differentiating Histiocytosis from other Diseases

Differential diagnosis

Histiocytosis must be differentiated from other causes of diabetes insipidus.

Type of DI Subclass Disease Defining signs and symptoms Lab/Imaging findings
Central Acquired Histiocytosis
  • CD1a and CD45 +
  • Interleukin-17 (ILITA)
Skull x-ray of a patient with Langerhan’s histiocytosis showing lytic lesions – Case courtesy of Dr Hani Salam, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 9459
Craniopharyngioma
Brain MRI showing suprasellar mass consistent with the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma – Case courtesy of A.Prof Frank Gaillard, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 16812
Sarcoidosis
Contrast-enhanced patches in a patient previously diagnosed with lung sarcoidosis – Case courtesy of A.Prof Frank Gaillard, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 10930
Congenital Hydrocephalus Dilated ventricles on CT and MRI
Obstructive hydrocephalus showing dilated lateral ventricles – Case courtesy of Dr Paul Simkin, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 30453
Wolfram Syndrome (DIDMOAD)
Nephrogenic Acquired Drug-induced (demeclocycline, lithium)
Hypercalcemia
  • Ca levels greater than 11 meq/L
Hypokalemia
  • K levels less than 3meq/L on CBC
Multiple myeloma
Skeletal survey in a patient with multiple myeloma showing multiple lytic lesions – Case courtesy of A.Prof Frank Gaillard, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 7682
Sickle cell disease
Blood film showing the sickle cells – By Dr Graham Beards – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18421017
Primary polydipsia Psychogenic
Gestational diabetes insipidus
Diabetes mellitus
  • Elevated blood sugar levels >126
  • Elevated HbA1c > 6.5

References

  1. Ghosh KN, Bhattacharya A (1992). “Gonotrophic nature of Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the laboratory”. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 34 (2): 181–2. PMID 1340034.

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Epidemiology and Demographics

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

Overview

Epidemiology and Demographics

According to the Histiocytosis Association of America, 1 in 200,000 children in the United States are born with histiocytosis each year.[1] HAA also states that most of the people diagnosed with histiocytosis are children under the age of 10. The University of California, San Francisco, states that the disease usually occurs from birth to age 15.[2]

References

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Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

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References

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Diagnosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | X Ray | CT | MRI | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1

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