A 46 year old woman suffering from Erdheim-Chester disease is reported for
the first time in the German dermatologic literature. She showed periorbita
l xanthelasmas and indurated erythemas on both flanks. Histologically the s
kill manifestations were also a sign of the basic disease which had spread
to various organs. Small granulomas with foam cells, macrophages and few gi
ant cells were found in the cerium. Immunhistochemistry demonstrated positi
ve reactions to protein 5-100 and alpha -1-Antichymotrypsin, while CD 1 a-a
ntigen and PNA were negative. Further localizations of Erdheim-Chester dise
ase were found in the femurs, tibiae and mandibula as well as in the right
breast, retroorbital region and abdominal aorta. Infiltration of the retrop
eritoneal cavity led to urinary retention and nephrectomy. With systemic co
rticosteroid therapy, the skin lesions on the Ranks regressed but recurred
after discontinuance of The drug. Erdheim-Chester disease is now classified
as part of the histiocytoses which is confirmed by our immunohistochemical
findings. The histiocytes are probably not identical with Langerhans cells
. The diagnosis is usually made by the radiologist on the basis of typical
osteosclerotic symmetrical lesions of the long bones, histologically repres
enting lipoid granulomas. Common non-osseous manifestations of the disease
are in the retroperitoneal region, orbita and intracranially (partially ass
ociated with diabetes insipidus) which are often fatal. On the skin, xanthe
lasma and xanthoma are present in 1/6 of the cases; in some patients yellow
-brown papular and widespread infiltrated lesions have been described. As r
egards to therapy corticosteroids chemotherapy, radiation and immunomodulat
ing agents as well as surgery have been used with limited success.