Langerhans' cell histiocytosis: Paediatric head and neck study

Objective: This study presents the experience of the Montreal Children's Ho spital (MCH) with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) and reviews the new advances in diagnosis and therapy of this disorder. Design: Retrospective study of 20 patients seen between July 1986 and July 1997 diagnosed with LCH. Methods: All of the 20 charts were examined for variables including age, se x, area involved, treatment modalities, and complications. Result: Sixty-five percent of patients presented with localized lesions and 35% with multisystem involvement. The most common involved area was the sk ull, and 57% of skull lesions involved frontal bone. The temporal bone was involved in 25% of cases. The most common ear symptom was otorrhea. Conclusion: Langerhans' cell histiocytosis is a rare paediatric disorder. H ead and neck involvement occurs frequently in both localized and multisyste m disease. The prognosis is highly dependent on the age and number of syste ms involved.