[Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis--clinicopathologic analysis of 7 cases]

Langerhans cell histiocytosis with only pulmonary involvement is a rare, probably reactive, proliferating disease of young and smoking persons. During last 7 years 7 cases of Langerhans cell histiocytosis were diagnosed in our Department. There were 6 men and one woman. Mean age was about 32 years. All of them were smokers. Intensity and duration of smoking varied widely from 5 to 40 cigarettes/day and 5 to 30 years respectively. The most frequent symptoms were dry cough, dyspnea. Two patients had no complaints. Pneumothorax preceded diagnosis in 4 patients. Duration of symptoms varied from 3 months to 10 years--in a patient who was previously diagnosed as allergic alveolitis. All patients had typical radiological and HRCT appearance of disseminated nodular lesions with small cysts formation with sparing of costo-phrenic angles. Three of patients had very advanced disease with cystic lung destruction. Restriction was noticed in those three patients. Diminished values of compliance and diffusing capacity for CO was observed in four patients. Bronchoscopy examination of bronchial tree revealed only slight inflammation in all patients. BAL was assessed for presence of CD1a cells in 6 cases, but in no one patient elevated number of those cells was noticed (2-4.5%). In all patients open lung biopsy was performed, and typical histologic appearance was observed. In six patients also CD1a positive cells were revealed in lung specimens.