Pulmonary involvement in Erdheim-Chester disease

Respirology. 2005 Jun;10(3):389-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2005.00671.x.

Abstract

Erdheim-Chester disease is a disseminated non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis involving multiple organs with characteristic sclerotic musculoskeletal lesions. This is the report of the case of a 53-year-old woman with extensive and progressive pulmonary disease. Computed tomography scans revealed diffuse infiltrative lung disease. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy and a biopsy of the right femur lesion were performed. The histopathology revealed that she had non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis; Erdheim-Chester disease. The characteristic lesions of Erdheim-Chester disease, including involvement of the orbit, pericardium, periaorta, and bone were detected. This helped to further confirm that the patient had Erdheim-Chester disease with associated pulmonary involvement. As Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis that may be misdiagnosed as interstitial lung disease or other pulmonary disorders, this diagnosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lung lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease / complications*
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Femur / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / complications*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed