[Pelvic mass in 70 years old patient: Difficult diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease]

Ann Pathol. 2022 Mar;42(2):183-187. doi: 10.1016/j.annpat.2021.12.003. Epub 2021 Dec 27.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Erdheim-Chester disease (EC) is a rare disease that is included in Group L in the 2016 revised classification of Langheransian histiocytoses. This disease may be clinically asymptomatic or manifest as a multi-systemic and life-threatening condition. All organs can be affected but typically there is bone involvement, retroperitoneal fibrosis, pituitary involvement, involvement of large vessels, lung, pleura or central nervous system. We are reporting a 70-year-old patient who, as of 2014, had a pelvic mass with retroperitoneal fibrosis and large vessel vasculitis without a definite diagnosis. Histological and molecular examination of the surgical specimen of the pelvic mass with the discovery of the BRAF V600E mutation provided new elements for the definitive diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease. We will describe the clinical, histological and molecular features to be known in EC disease.

Keywords: BRAF; Erdheim-Chester; Fibrose rétropéritonéale; Retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / diagnosis
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / genetics
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Rare Diseases / pathology
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis* / pathology