Central nervous system disease in Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 1998 Apr;12(2):287-305. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8588(05)70511-6.

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) disease in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a poorly understood complication of yet unknown frequency. By far the most common manifestation is in the hypothalamic-pituitary system with diabetes insipidus as the leading sign, followed by other endocrinopathies and hypothalamic dysfunction. However, essentially all other parts of the CNS may be involved. On the one hand, space-occupying histiocytic infiltrates may lead to size- and site-depending symptoms, extending from adjacent bone lesions or arising from the meninges or choroid plexus. On the other hand, a progressive neurological deterioration can occur with mainly cerebellar-pontine symptoms. In this article, these clinical patterns are described in correlation with the morphology on MR imaging and histopathology. Further, the therapeutic strategies are reviewed critically, and guidelines for the management of patients with LCH-related CNS disease are presented.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Central Nervous System / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System / pathology*
  • Central Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / pathology*
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Radiography