A Hematologic Disease Disguised as Cutaneous Candidiasis

Cureus. 2021 Nov 21;13(11):e19784. doi: 10.7759/cureus.19784. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare hematologic neoplasm with a myeloid origin, which can affect numerous organs, the skin being the second most frequently affected by this disease. In this report, a case of a 44-year-old female, who was intermittently followed due to a suspected persistent cutaneous candidiasis in which a skin biopsy revealed Langerhans cell histiocytosis with immunohistochemistry positive for CD1a and S100 protein, is described. The management of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is difficult because these disorders respond inconsistently to immunosuppressive and chemotherapeutic strategies. The authors present this case to highlight a differential diagnosis of refractory cutaneous candidiasis and raise awareness of the importance of skin biopsy in these cases.

Keywords: cutaneous candidiasis; hematologic neoplasms; langerhans cell histiocytosis(lch); langerhans’cell histiocytosis; skin biopsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports