Oral manifestations of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Case study of a two-year-old boy.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare pathology. It may be a single system disease at a single site or at multiple sites, or a multisystem disease; it may evolve from one of these forms into another. Oral manifestations may be the first signs of the disease. Little is known as yet about its etiology. We review the nosological entity and present the case of a two-year-old boy suffering from the multisystem form, paying particular attention to the oral manifestations. Physical examination on admittance revealed skin lesions in the scalp, armpits and groins, hepatosplenomegaly and bilateral otorrhea. The diagnosis was multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis, affecting the skin, bone, liver and CNS.