[A case of multifocal eosinophilic granuloma presenting as a rib tumor]

A 19-year-old man was hospitalized because of left chest pain. He had a tumor in the left fifth rib with tenderness. Partial resection of the fifth rib was performed. Pathological examination showed granuloma with infiltration of histiocyte-like cells and eosinophils, and S-100 staining was positive. Therefore, the rib tumor was diagnosed as eosinophilic granuloma. Thereafter, the patient had recurrent bone lesions of the mandible, temporal bone, zygomatic bone, scapula, right eleventh rib, and tibia. Radiation therapy was effective for local treatment of each bone lesion. Moreover, pulmonary lesion was suspected on roentgenographic study. However, he had no respiratory symptoms and there was no significant change on roentgenographic findings over six years. It was considered that follow up for detection of bone and pulmonary lesions should be continued in this case.