PURPOSE/AIM: 1.To illustrate the wide spectrum of EXTRA-OSSEOUS manifestations seen with pediatric Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), investigated by various imaging modalities 2.To increase awareness of the often little specific radiological findings in isolation, by radiologists so that suspicion of systemic LCH can be early raised in appropriate context
CONTENT ORGANIZATION: Background LCH in children shows a heterogeneous clinical spectrum ranging from a single bone lesion to multisystem disease. Nearly any organ may be involved. The clinical course is among other factors related to the degree of organ dysfunction at the time of initial diagnosis. Imaging Findings Using a systematic multimodality approach we present pulmonary, hepatobiliary, splenic, gastrointestinal, neurological involvement of LCH including histiocytic infiltration of the salivary glands.
SUMMARY: 1. EXTRA-OSSEOUS LCH is characterized by many different possibilities of organ involvemnt, resulting in a great variety of clinical manifestations and radiologcial findings, none being pathognomonic in isolation. 2. The severity and pattern at the onset of disease can be precisely monitored by the specific imaging modalities available, reflecting degree of organ dysfuntion and therefore indicating patient's outcome.