Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), previously called histiocytosis X, was first described by Alfred Hand, Jr. in 1893 and described a spectrum of proliferation of Langerhans cells and were developed as unisystem disease (unifocal or multifocal) or multisystem disease [1]. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a proliferation of Langerhans cells with inflammatory cells. It is characterized by the activation of histiocytic cells or their proliferation that affects structures of the human body, including the temporal bone. LCH usually occurs in young children with a peak at the age of 1 - 4 years. The spheno-temporal localization is rare in children [2]. About 50% - 80% of pediatric LCH is found in the head and neck regions. The temporal bone invasion is approximately 15% to 60% of cases [3]. Otologic presentations are common and are dominated by otalgia, otorrhea, mastoid swelling and are very similar to cholesteatoma, otitis media, otitis externa. That usually delayed the diagnosis [4].

We report the case of a young 4-year-old Moroccan patient with a history of otorrhea and recurrent otalgia treated by antibiotics without improvement. Then, he presented left axillary non-blowing progressive exophthalmia since 05 months associated with indurated left temporal swelling and also an indurated swelling of posterior face of the left shoulder on pathological fracture. The patient was clinically conscient; no deficit with Karnofsky performance score at 80. Free-field pure-tone audiometry showed moderate conductive deafness and there was no pathological nystagmus. A cerebro-orbital MRI performed showed an extra-conical process with extension at the temporal fossa (Figures 1-3).

An X-Ray performs on the left shoulder indurated shows a lytic lesion of the upper 1/3 of the humerus (Figure 4).

The patient, then, underwent an open-air biopsy of the temporal mass.

The pathological analysis returned to favor Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The diagnosis was made by hematolysin-Eosin stained with magnification that

showed large cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclei of these cells are irregular with prominent folds and grooves and fine chromatin (Figure 5). The immunohistochemical findings includes the expression of CD1a; S100 protein (Figure 6 and Figure 7).

The patient was treated par corticosteroid prednisone at dose of 1 mg/kg for three months followed by chemotherapy Vinblastine 6 mg/m²/dose intraveinous per week with a good outcome (Table 1).

The follow up was excellent after 3 years.

Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis formerly known as histiocytosis X includes the disorders (eosinophilic granuloma, Hand-Schüller-Christiandisease, and Letterer-Siwe disease) that express the heterogeneous clinical manifestations of the disease.

The etiology and pathogenesis are still unknown.

The clinical appearance of LCH is dependent on the location of the lesion. Due to the abnormal accumulation of histiocytes, every organ could be affected, such as the central nervous system, skin, bone, bone marrow, lung, liver, spleen and lymph nodes, and may cause associated signs and symptoms [5]. In our case left temporal bone sweeling with extension in the temporal fossa associated with the third upper humerus location.

Histopathologically, despite the relatively benign-looking histologic features, the histiocytic infiltration consists predominantly of a clonal proliferation of pathologic Langerhans cells like tissue macrophages rather than the typical dendritic shape of Langerhans cells in the skin. Also in the Immuno-chemistry analysis, neuronal marker S100 and CD1a which is specific for Langerhans cells (and thymocytes) and is not expressed by macrophages are positive, that helps to confirm the diagnosis [6].

The treatment for LCH includes local excision of the lesion, chemotherapy, steroid therapy, radiation, the use of anti-CD1a monoclonal antibodies and hormone replacement therapy in for patients with hormone deficiencies [7] [8].

Biopsy and curettage for solitary orbital lesions is recommended by most in the literature, but remission after biopsy alone has been reported by Maccheron et al. [9] [10].

Chemotherapy might be considered for orbital lesions with dura involvement like in our case.

Surgery is considered in aggressive LCH of the orbit and skull base with intracranial extension and cranial nerve involvement and completed by chemotherapy and radiation [10].

In addition to the use of systemic corticosteroids, cytostatic therapies like 2-chlorodesoxiademosin (2CdA-cladribine), cyclosporine, thalidomide and myeloablative therapies were prescribed [11] [12]. Single system disease can be treated with local injectable intratumoral steroids [13] [14]. Following surgery, numerous investigators recommend low-dose radiotherapy (10 - 20 Gy) in cases in which the tissue involved cannot be completely excised [14].

Recurrences are treated by low dose radiation therapy in most of the cases, but still have side-effects or long-term sequelae such as secondary neoplasms [15].

Our results concord with other studies, the prognosis of unifocal bone disease is excellent and children with a multifocal disease have a survival rate of 65% - 100%.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disease. If the temporal mass is associated with chronic otitis and otorrhea, that contributes to be a high-index proliferation. A biopsy must be done in the presence of a temporal bone lytic lesion. The diagnoses are supported by the presence of S100 and CD1a in the immunohistochemical analysis. Chemotherapy brings good results and it is the reference therapeutic modality.

All the authors declare that they have no competing financial, professional, or personnal interests that might have influenced the presentation of this work.

Sayore, C.M., Bankole, N., Rifi, L., Cherradi, N., Melhaoui, A. and Elouahabi, A. (2020) Spheno-Temporal Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: A Case Report. Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery, 10, 260-266. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojmn.2020.102028