Adult-onset CNS Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: Mystery Cases
Recommended Citation
Suneja A, Memon AB, Mukherjee A. Adult-onset CNS Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: Mystery Cases. Neurology 2020; 94(15):3.
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
4-14-2020
Publication Title
Neurology
Abstract
Objective: To present the interesting clinical and neuroimaging findings of CNS Langerhans histiocytosis (LCH) in adult patients.
Background: LCH is a rare multi-organ disease that typically affects children younger than 15 years, but adult-onset LCH usually presents after the fourth decade in a delayed diagnosis fashion. CNS involvement ranges from 3.4–57%. CNS disease can present with focal mass lesions or lesions associated with progressive neurodegeneration.
Case 1: 43-year-old female presented with a vasovagal syncopal episode. MRI brain confirmed a pituitary stalk and neural hypophysis mass with progressive vasogenic edema and mass effect. The patient underwent bifrontal craniotomy and suprasellar mass debulking and pathology revealed a proliferation of histiocytes admixed with lymphocytes, plasma cells, and occasional eosinophils. Histiocytes had a moderate amount of foamy cytoplasm concerning for LCH. Her course was complicated by the development of panhypopituitarism and central diabetes insipidus post-operatively. PET scan showed hypermetabolic left cervical lymph nodes but the fine-needle aspiration of the lymph nodes did not reveal Langerhans histiocytosis pathology. She was initiated on radiation therapy with consideration of chemotherapy with vinblastine with concurrent steroid therapy.
Case 2: 28-year-old male initially presented with significant gait unsteadiness, diplopia, nystagmus, dysphagia, and dysarthria. MRI brain revealed FLAIR signal abnormalities in the pons white matter and dentate nuclei and cerebellum. Clinically, he was suspected to have a neurodegenerative form of LCH due to concurrent clinical presentation of panhypopituitarism. He underwent 12 cycles of Cytarabine followed by another 6 cycles 6 months later and his symptoms improved. He continues to remain stable clinically, even upon repeat MRI brain imaging 11 years to date.
Conclusions: We present two interesting cases of adult-onset, CNS LCH with focal mass lesions in the pituitary/neural hypophysis and posterior fossa with neurodegeneration. In patients with concurrent pituitary dysfunction, LCH should remain in the differential and appropriate therapy should be initiated.
Volume
94
Issue
15
First Page
3
