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.
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.
Authors: Stephane Ducassou; Fanny Seyrig; Caroline Thomas; Anne Lambilliotte; Perrine Marec-Berard; Claire Berger; Genevieve Plat; Laurence Brugiere; Marie Ouache; Mohamed Barkaoui; Corinne Armari-Alla; Patrick Lutz; Guy Leverger; Xavier Rialland; Ludovic Mansuy; Helene Pacquement; Eric Jeziorski; Virginie Gandemer; François Chalard; Jean François Chateil; Abdellatif Tazi; Jean François Emile; Jean Donadieu Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2013-06-29 Impact factor: 3.167