Erdheim-Chester disease presenting as periodontal disease: Experience of treatment with cladribine, interferon-a, local radiotherapy and anakinra

Cervical Lymphadenopathies as Unusual Presentations of Erdheim-Chester Disease: The Need for Knowledge for Diagnosis and Treatment

The appearance of cervical adenopathies can occur in many pathologies in a non-specific manner; Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) is characterized by xanthogranulomatous and xanthomatous infiltration of different tissues with numerous foamy histiocytes. Bone lesions are frequent and radiological features are pathognomonic for diagnosis, but lymph node involvement is exceptional and is not a form of presentation reported in the literature. Recurrent BRAFV600E mutation and others have been discovered in recent years. Since then, several treatments targeting the BRAF and MEK pathways have been developed with high success rates; even so, interferon-α continues to be one of the most widely used treatments. The best imaging test for the study and monitoring of the disease is PET-CT. The prognosis of ECD is relatively poor, with a survival of 43% of patients after 32 months follow-up. Higher survival rates have been reported in patients treated with interferon. The authors present an exceptional case of ECD with cervical adenopathies as a debut, highlighting the need for the knowledge of the disease for differential diagnosis, early treatment, and the importance of communication between the clinician and the pathologist. The main features of the disease and a brief discussion of current diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.

Erdheim-Chester disease: atypical presentation of a rare disease

We report the clinical case of an adult patient referred to our hospital because of trismus due to a tumour in the right infratemporal and pterygomaxillary fossa. He referred hyporexia, weight loss and right trigeminal neuralgia. On physical examination, he had trismus and diplopia. On neuroimaging, the tumour invaded the central nervous system affecting the right temporal lobe and orbit, and the sellar region. Tumour biopsy revealed foamy histiocytes and isolated giant multinuclear cells immunoreactive to CD68 and negative to CD1a and S100. A diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease was made. Non-evidence of large bone involvement was found in neither plain radiographs nor Technetium 99 m bone scintigraphy. BRAFV600E mutation analysis was negative. Because of raised intracranial pressure, a debulking surgery of the intracranial histiocytic process was performed. The patient improved his symptoms and remains clinically stable after 12 months of treatment with pegylated interferon-α-2a 180 µg/weekly.

Clinical and Radiologic Responses to Cladribine for the Treatment of Erdheim-Chester Disease

Importance

While cladribine is best known for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia and other lymphoid cancers, it also has activity against myeloid neoplasms, such as Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD).

Objective

To assess the efficacy of cladribine (2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine) in the treatment of ECD.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This study was a single-institution retrospective medical record review from January 1, 1998, to April 6, 2016, at a tertiary academic medical center. In all eligible cases, the diagnosis of ECD was made using clinical criteria in conjunction with histopathologic findings.

Exposure

Cladribine therapy in first-line treatment or later.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Two response criteria were used, clinical and radiological. For clinical response, the following criteria were used: complete response (complete resolution of symptoms attributed to ECD), partial response (partial resolution of symptoms attributed to ECD), stable disease (no change in symptoms attributed to ECD), and progressive disease (worsening of symptoms attributed to ECD). For radiological response, the following categories were used: complete response (complete resolution of proven or suspected lesion due to ECD), partial response (partial resolution of proven or suspected lesion due to ECD), stable disease (no significant change in proven or suspected lesion due to ECD for ≥3 months), and progressive disease (progression or worsening of proven or suspected lesion due to ECD).

Results

A total of 63 adult patients with confirmed ECD were identified. Their median age at diagnosis of ECD was 54 years (age range, 18-80 years), and 67% (42 of 63) were male. Cladribine was the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agent and was administered in 21 of 63 patients (33%). Their median age at the time of cladribine therapy was 62 years (age range, 40-78 years). Cladribine was used as the first-line treatment in 9 patients and as later-line treatment in the remaining 12 patients. The median number of cycles of cladribine administered was 2.5 (range, 1-6). The overall clinical response rate was 52% (9 of 17) (6% [1 of 17] complete response and 46% [8 of 17] partial response), with 18% (3 of 17) stable disease and 30% (5 of 17) progressive disease. Among patients who responded to cladribine therapy, the median duration of clinical response was 9 months (range, 6-129 months), with ongoing response in 2 patients. The overall radiological response rate was 54% (8 of 15) (all partial response), with 26% (4 of 15) stable disease and 20% (2 of 15) progressive disease. Treatment-related adverse effects included 2 infectious complications (pneumonia and central line infection, both requiring hospitalization) and 2 hematologic adverse effects (grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and grade 3 neutropenia, both requiring therapy discontinuation).

Conclusions and Relevance

Cladribine has moderate clinical efficacy in the treatment of ECD and can be considered a treatment option in cases without the BRAF V600E mutation. It is generally well tolerated and may result in a durable response.