Petrous Bone Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Treated with Radiosurgery

Successful treatment of orbital Langerhans cell histiocytosis with stereotactic radiosurgery: A case report and literature review

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare inflammatory myeloid neoplasm arising from the proliferation of pathologic Langerhans cells. LCH has a spectrum of presentations predominantly affecting male pediatric patients. As LCH is a relatively uncommon diagnosis, there is no standard of care for treatment of the disease and treatment is based largely on clinical judgment, lesion characteristics, and symptoms at presentation. Here we present a case of unifocal, isolated orbital LCH in a 19-year-old young man treated initially with surgical resection. Follow-up imaging 2 months later demonstrated significant regrowth of the mass and no other sites of disease. The recurrent orbital disease was treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to 7 Gy in one fraction. Near complete resolution of the mass was achieved with no recurrence after 1.5 years of follow-up. SRS for treatment of orbital LCH is a novel treatment not previously described in the literature which may provide benefit in select cases.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Localized Cranial Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: A Single Institution Experience and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare idiopathic disease characterized by the clonal proliferation of Langerhans histiocytes in various parts of the body and capable of leading to organ damage and tumor formation. Reports of cranial LCH in the adult population are extremely rare. Although surgery remains the preferred option for localized LCH lesions, the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is emerging.

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively review a rare case series to determine the safety and effectiveness of SRS for patients with localized cranial LCH.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed histopathologically confirmed cases of localized cranial LCH treated with SRS at our institute in the adult population between January 2005 and September 2022. Five patients were identified with a median age of 34 years (19-54 years). The tumor location was in the pituitary stalk in 3 patients, the orbit in one patient, and the parietal skull in one patient. The median target volume was 2.8 cc (range: 0.37-6.11). Treatment was delivered in a single fraction in 4 patients (median margin dose of 8 Gy, range: 7-10 Gy) and in 3 fractions (22.5 Gy) in 1 patient. The median follow-up was 12 years (range: 4-17). None of the patients required craniotomy for tumor debulking before or after SRS.

RESULTS

The local tumor control rate for the lesions was 100%. All 3 patients with LCH in the pituitary stalk had diabetes insipidus at the initial presentation and developed panhypopituitarism after SRS. Diabetes insipidus was not improved after SRS. The other 2 patients presented no adverse radiation effects. Based on the literature review, our case series was the largest retrospective series on SRS for localized cranial LCH, with the longest median follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

SRS for patients with localized cranial LCH was a safe and effective treatment modality in this case series. Larger studies are encouraged to validate the role of SRS in the treatment of localized cranial LCH.

Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Intracranial Histiocytosis: a Systematic Review of Literature of an Emerging Modality for Localized Disease

BACKGROUND

A histiocytosis is a group of immunoproliferative disorders of clonal cells. The management protocols are still evolving, with chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, efficacy, and complication profile of stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial histiocytosis.

METHODOLOGY

The authors reviewed PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for "radiosurgery" and "histiocytosis" in the English/Japanese language following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The patient profile, radiosurgical parameters (dose and isodose), target volume, and mode of radiosurgery (Gamma knife, LINAC radiosurgery, etc.) were collected. Its use as primary or adjuvant therapy, clinical and radiological outcome was also evaluated.

RESULTS

We identified 7 studies (9 patients); mean age: 41.9 years (24-57 years). Six patients received Gamma-knife radiosurgery, whereas 3 received CyberKnife radiosurgery. The Langerhans cell histiocytosis variants were eosinophilic granuloma in 3, whereas 4 were not defined. Two cases had Rosai-Dorfman disease, and 2 different yet pathogenetically related histiocytic disorders. Four patients harbored lesions in the pituitary stalk and posterior pituitary, 2 patients in the petrous region, 1 patient had a pontine lesion, and 2 patients had multiple lesions. The dose delivered ranged from 8 to 28 Gy. A total of 18 lesions (9 patients) were followed for 81.67 patient-years: 7 (39%) disappeared, 8 (44.4%) showed radiological reduction, and 2 (11%) remained stable. One lesion (5%) showed an increase in size needed surgical excision. There were no adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

The role of stereotactic radiosurgery needs to be further evaluated as the current cohort with only 9 cases (2 are Rosai-Dorfman disease) is insufficient to make conclusions. It may be a viable alternative in localized disease, along with chemotherapy and targeted surgery.

Unusual sites of bone involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a systematic review of the literature

Background

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that originates from the uncontrolled proliferation and accumulation of bone marrow-derived immature myeloid dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are a type of histiocyte that play an important role in the human immune system and are found in the bone, skin, stomach, eyes, intestines, and lungs.

Objective

This systematic review aimed to collect and report published case reports of rare bone disease caused by LCH to avoid misdiagnoses or delays in diagnosis.

Methods

We systematically searched Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Sciences from August 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Studies reporting cases of LCH with rare bone involvement were included.

Results

We identified 60 articles including 64 cases. Of the identified cases, 31 (48.4%) involved children, and 33 (51.6%) involved adults. Additionally, 46.9% (30 individuals) were from Asian countries. The mean age of the children was 7.6 ± 4.3 years and that of the adults was 36 ± 12 years. The findings indicated that unifocal bone involvements were the most prevalent form of the disease (68.7%), and, overall, the skull and chest wall were the most commonly affected bones in both adults and children. The spine and long bones were the second most commonly affected bones in children, and the spine and jaw were the second most commonly affected bones in adults. Pain and swelling were the most frequent presenting signs among the investigated cases, and loss of consciousness, myelopathy, nerve palsy, visual loss, torticollis and clicking sounds were rare signs. Osteolytic lesions were the most frequent radiologic feature (62.5%), and intracranial hemorrhage, fluid–fluid level, dura and intracranial extension and pathologic fractures were rare radiological features. Total excision, curettage and observation in the unifocal group of patients and systemic chemotherapy in the other groups (i.e., multifocal and multisystem) were the most frequent management approaches. The recovery rates of the unifocal and multifocal groups were 77.3% and 81.8%, respectively, while that of the multisystem group was 55.5%. The rates of recurrence and mortality in the multisystem group were 11% and were higher than those in the other groups.

Conclusions

LCH is a rare disease that can affect any organ in the human body. However, bone is the most commonly involved organ, and rare bone involvements may be the first or only symptom of the disease due to the rarity of such lesions; a lack of familiarity with them may result in misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

Pediatric Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the lateral skull base

OBJECTIVE

Describe the presentation, imaging characteristics, management, and outcomes of pediatric patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the temporal bone.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed between 2000 and 2014 at a single tertiary care children's hospital. Fourteen patients were identified with a diagnosis of LCH and involvement of the temporal bone.

RESULTS

Ten patients were female and ten were Caucasian. Mean age at diagnosis was 3 years (range 0.3-9.6 years). The most common presenting symptoms were scalp lesions, postauricular lesions, otalgia, and persistent ear infections. Three patients had documented hearing loss. Four cases had otic capsule invasion. Computed tomography demonstrated a lytic temporal bone lesion within the following subsites: mastoid, squamous temporal bone, external auditory canal, middle ear, and petrous apex. Four patients had intracranial disease. Extent and location of disease prompted all patients to be initially managed with chemotherapy. Surgical excision was limited to one case of localized recurrence. After a mean follow-up of 85.2 months (SD 42.4 months) there were no deaths but eight patients had a recurrence. Two patients developed long-term otologic sequelae requiring surgery. One patient developed labyrinthitis ossificans.

CONCLUSION

LCH has a varied presentation, age distribution, and treatment algorithm. This series of 14 pediatric patients with temporal bone involvement supports a limited role for surgical resection. Long-term follow-up is critical for detection of local and disseminated disease, and for monitoring of otologic complications.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the temporal bone in children

Eosinophilic granuloma (EG) is a bony destructive disease that frequently occurs in children; it is a subtype of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The aims of this study were to detect the presenting features of temporal bone lesions in children and to evaluate the efficacy of surgery combined with radiotherapy in treatment of the disease. A retrospective study on 12 children with EG of the temporal bone was done. Computed tomography and hearing assessment were performed for all patients. All patients were treated with cortical mastoidectomy followed by postoperative radiotherapy. Follow-up was carried out for at least 2 years. The patients' presenting symptoms were external ear canal mass in 10 patients (83.3%), postauricular swelling in 8 patients (66.7%), and persistent otorrhea in 4 patients (33.3%). Ten patients (83.3%) showed conductive hearing loss, whereas 2 patients (16.7%) showed mixed hearing loss on the affected side. Computed tomography showed osteolytic defects without sclerotic margins filled with soft tissue masses involving the mastoid bone. Histopathologic examination showed eosinophils and Langerhans cells that were immune reactive for CD1 antigen and S-100 protein. Postoperative follow-up showed complete cure of the disease in 10 children (83.3%), with recurrence detected in 2 patients (16.7%) who needed second surgical intervention. We concluded that temporal bone EG in children may present with features that mimic the features of chronic suppurative otitis media. However, computed tomography and histopathologic examination are diagnostic. Cortical mastoidectomy together with postoperative radiotherapy is an achievable treatment in most cases.

Does adjunctive chemotherapy reduce remission rates compared to cortisone alone in unifocal or multifocal histiocytosis of bone?

BACKGROUND

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder that can affect almost any organ, including bone. Treatment options include local corticosteroid infiltration in isolated bone lesions and oral corticosteroids and chemotherapy in multifocal bone lesions. Several studies show local corticosteroid injection in unifocal bone lesions heal in more than 75% of patients with minimal side effects. Therefore, it is unclear whether chemotherapy adds materially to the healing rate.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

We therefore compared overall survival, remission rate, and recurrence rate in patients with bone LCH treated with chemotherapy and corticosteroids or corticosteroids alone.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 198 patients with LCH since 1950. Median age at diagnosis was 5 years, male-to-female ratio was 1.33, and the most frequent symptom was local pain (95%). We recorded the disease presentation, demographics, treatment, and clinical evolution of each patient. Minimum followup was 4 months (median, 24 months; range, 4-360 months).

RESULTS

The survival rate of the systemic disease group was 76.5% (65 of 85) while the survival rate in the unifocal and multifocal bone involvement groups was 100% at a median 5-year followup. All patients with unifocal bone involvement and 40 of 43 (93%) with multifocal bone involvement had complete remission. One of 30 patients with multifocal bone involvement treated with chemotherapy and oral corticosteroids did not achieve remission whereas two of six receiving only corticosteroids did not achieve remission.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observations suggest intralesional corticosteroid injection without adjunctive chemotherapy achieves remission in unifocal bone LCH but may not do so in multifocal single-system bone involvement. Larger series would be required to confirm this observation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the petrous bone with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Case report

A 56-year-old woman with Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the petrous bone presented with sudden onset of sensorineural hearing loss and vertigo without other neurological impairment, mimicking idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Differential diagnosis was difficult until neuroimaging demonstrated a lesion of the petrous bone. The patient eventually underwent removal of the lesion via the transpetrosal approach, and received postoperative chemotherapy consisting of vinblastine, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisolone. Although her hearing did not recover, complete remission was achieved, and the patient is currently free from disease. Physicians need to be aware that patients with sudden onset of hearing loss may have an unexpected and hidden disease which requires neuroimaging and histological examinations for definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

[Early start eosinophilic granuloma of the temporal bone]

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a disease of unknown aetiology which may be isolated or affect multiple organs and which frequently affects the head and neck, with cranial compromise being one of the most common manifestations in children over five years. We present the case of a three year old girl with no otologic history who came to our hospital with a clinic of subperiostic abscess, subsequently diagnosed as eosinophilic granuloma. We describe the treatment and clinical evolution of the case.

Craniospinal Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children: 30 years' experience at a single institution

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to review a large series of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) who had craniospinal lesions to assess the long-term course, outcome, and efficacy of treatment of the disease.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with LCH who presented to a single pediatric neurosurgical department between 1976 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

This series included 29 boys and 15 girls, ranging in age from 2 months to 13 years, with a mean follow-up duration of 4.5 years. Twenty-seven patients (61%) had unifocal bone lesions, 12 (27%) had multifocal bone disease, 2 (5%) had solitary hypothalamic-pituitary axis lesions, and 3 (7%) had multiple organ involvement at presentation. Five (19%) of the 27 patients with unifocal bone disease and 4 (33%) of the 12 patients with multifocal bone disease had delayed development of new bone lesions during the follow-up period. The time to development of new bone lesions ranged from 1 month to 1 year. Two of the 3 patients with multiple-organ LCH died. Patient age < or = 2 years at the time of initial presentation was a risk factor for both initial multifocality and eventual dissemination. In all patients with initial multifocal bone involvement or later dissemination of unifocal bone disease, LCH was controlled by chemotherapy, except for 2 who were treated by surgery alone. Three patients had histological evidence of spontaneous resolution of their lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with unifocal LCH can be effectively treated with surgery alone. Very young patients are more likely to have multifocal disease and disseminations, and will usually require chemotherapy to control their disease. Spontaneously regressing lesions need not be resected; however, a biopsy procedure can be performed for diagnostic purposes.