Pulmonary manifestation of a Langerhans cell sarcoma: case report and review of the literature

Virchows Arch. 2006 Mar;448(3):369-74. doi: 10.1007/s00428-005-0115-z. Epub 2005 Nov 22.

Abstract

In the following, we describe the very rare case of Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) in the lung. Throughout the medical literature, only a few cases have been published, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case to be reported in Germany. The patient was an 81-year-old man who showed symptoms such as chronic cough and weight loss. Clinical examination including needle biopsy indicated a high possibility of carcinoma in the right lung and in the mediastinum; however, the final histopathological diagnosis after immunohistochemistry gave evidence of LCS. LCS is a neoplastic proliferation of Langerhans cells with malignant cytological features exhibiting a very aggressive behaviour. LCS can be distinguished from other carcinomas, lymphomas and sarcomas by the typical morphological features of Langerhans cells and the immunophenotype with a consistent expression of S-100 protein and CD1a. In contrast to Langerhans cell histiocytosis, the LCS consists of Langerhans cells with high atypia and a very high mitotic rate.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD1 / metabolism
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Langerhans Cell Sarcoma / metabolism
  • Langerhans Cell Sarcoma / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mitosis
  • S100 Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD1
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD1a antigen
  • S100 Proteins