Oral manifestations of langerhans cell histiocytosis in a pediatric population: a clinical and histological study of 8 patients

J Craniofac Surg. 2006 May;17(3):552-6. doi: 10.1097/00001665-200605000-00028.

Abstract

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is a rare and protean disease of unknown etiology, clinically characterized by single or multiple osteolytic and/or soft tissue lesions. Oral involvement may predate systemic manifestations or mimic infectious/inflammatory disorders. In the present series, oral involvement characterized eight cases of pediatric Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and oral symptoms represented a very early sign of this disease in four patients. A careful clinical investigation and a proper histologic analysis were required for achieving a definite diagnosis and for confirming clinical suspicion of disease relapse. Immunohistochemistry, that nowadays represents a reliable and accessible ancillary histological technique, allowed the definite diagnosis in all cases of our series.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Exanthema / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gingival Diseases / diagnosis
  • Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative / diagnosis
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mouth Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Mouth Diseases / pathology
  • Mouth Mucosa / pathology
  • Osteolysis / diagnosis
  • Recurrence
  • Stomatitis, Aphthous / diagnosis