Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Pediatric Thoracic Spine with Development of Neurological Compromise: A Case Report

JBJS Case Connect. 2019 Jul-Sep;9(3):e0159. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.18.00159.

Abstract

Case: This report describes a 7-year-old girl with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the thoracic spine who developed neurological deterioration during nonsurgical management. She was treated with decompression and instrumented fusion followed by chemotherapy, recovered completely after surgery, and was doing well at 6-year follow-up.

Conclusions: The best treatment of LCH of the spine is not clear, but in the setting of neurologic compromise after failing conservative management, surgical decompression with adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Child
  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Female
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / complications*
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnostic imaging
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / drug therapy
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / surgery
  • Humans
  • Spinal Diseases / complications*
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Spinal Diseases / surgery
  • Spinal Fusion*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery*