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The thymus in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis
1DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
Objective:
To determine the frequency of thymic involvement in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis and describe its imaging appearance before and after treatment.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective review of the radiology and clinical records of all patients diagnosed with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis at DeVos Children's Hospital between 1992 and 1998.
Results:
Of the 14 patients diagnosed with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, 7 demonstrated multisystem involvement. The thymus was involved in 5 of 7 patients. The thymus was enlarged in 5; thymic contours were nodular/lobulated in 2; cystic changes were noted in 4; and dystrophic vascular-appearing calcifications were seen in 1. In all cases, findings regressed or resolved following chemotherapy.
Conclusion:
The thymus is commonly involved in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, especially in multisystem disease. Radiologically, the thymus is enlarged and may be smooth or lobulated/nodular in contour, possibly containing cysts and calcifications.