PULMONARY LANGERHANS CELL HISTIOCYTOSIS PRESENTED WITH PNEUMOTHORAX: CASE REPORT

LCH, also formerly known as eosinophilic granuloma or histiocytosis X, is characterized by impairment of the structure and functions of normal tissues by abnormal proliferation of Langerhans cells. We report and discuss here isolated pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with recent literature. Our patient is a 28-year-old male man who has been complaining of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss for three months. Thoracic computerized tomography (CT) showed partial pneumothorax on the right, bilateral parenchymal cystic spaces and accompanying pericystic reticular pattern. Bronchoscopy was normal and bronchoalveolar lavage sample was non-specific. Videothoracoscopic wedge biopsy was performed and the immunohistochemical examination showed LCH. No sign of extra-pulmonary involvement was found in the patient’s body screening. Our patient was accepted as isolated pulmonary LCH. He was treated only by to quit smoking and there is no evidence of progression since six months.