Eosinophilic granuloma of the sternum in a child treated with closed biopsy

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare neoplastic proliferative disorder of the Langerhans cells. The clinical course is variable, ranging from a low symptomatic single bone lesion to fatal multiple organ involvement. Rarely, the sternum can be the first and single location of the disease. We report on a 12-year-old boy who presented with an aggressive lytic lesion of the proximal sternum associated with local pain and afternoon fever. Histopathological analysis of the closed biopsy specimen indicated eosinophilic granuloma of bone/Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Soon after the biopsy procedure the pain and fever subsided. Computed tomography at 2 months showed healing of the lytic lesion. The patient received no other type of treatment. At 2 year follow up he was symptom and disease free.