Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Arising from the Mandible as Diagnosed by US-guided Core Biopsy.

Kim,  Soo Jin; Kim,  Eun Kyung; Lee,  Min Kyung

Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2010;29(3): 147-151.

Soo Jin Kim, Eun Kyung Kim, Min Kyung Lee

¹Department of Radiology, Center of Thyroid Cancer, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
²Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University Heath System, Seoul, Korea. ekkim@yuhs.ac
³Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University College of Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.

Published online: September 1, 2010.

ABSTRACT

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonal proliferative disorder of Langerhans cells. Although LCH is not considered a malignant disease, its appearance on radiographs may be similar to that of a malignant tumor. The diagnosis of LCH is usually made by a soft tissue biopsy, or by bone marrow aspiration or curettage. We present a patient with a mandibular mass confirmed to be LCH by US-guided core needle biopsy, and present a strategy for diagnosing localized LCH of the bone based on the usefulness and reliability of the percutaneous biopsy.

Keywords: Langerhans cell histiocytosis; Mandibular mass; Eosinophillic granuloma on mandible; US-guided core needle biopsy; Bone mass