Acral, pure cutaneous, self-healing, late-onset, cellulitis-like Langerhans cell histiocytosis

J Cutan Med Surg. 2009 Jan-Feb;13(1):43-7. doi: 10.2310/7750.2008.07078.

Abstract

Background: An unusual and not yet reported clinical presentation of pure cutaneous Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) that was a diagnostic dilemma.

Objective: To bring to light the newer presentation of this disease.

Method: The case was managed on clinical grounds initially as cellulitis. However, after the investigations and confirmation of the diagnosis, she was managed symptomatically.

Results: Pure cutaneous LCH may manifest in early adulthood with features of cellulitis, erythematous edematous vesicular plaques, and nodules distributed in the flexural acral areas.

Conclusion: Pure cutaneous LCH may have an acute late onset with unusual morphology as cellulitis, inverse acral distribution, and self-healing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Cellulitis / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Erythema / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / epidemiology
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymphangitis / epidemiology
  • Skin Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Skin Diseases / pathology