Clinical characteristics and outcomes of Langerhans cell histiocytosis at a single institution in Thailand: a 20-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease characterized by the various systems involved and clinical manifestations with a wide range of symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical characteristics, imaging, treatment, and outcomes of pediatric LCH at Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. METHODS: We conducted a 20-year retrospective review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with LCH from birth to 21 years old from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2016. RESULTS: In all, 14 patients with median age of 2.5 years were studied. Six (43%) patients had single-system (SS) LCH. Five patients (63%) with multisystem (MS) LCH (n = 8. 57%) had risk-organ involvement (RO+). All patients had plain X-ray imaging of their skull with 11 (79%) showing abnormal findings. Tc-99m bone imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) demonstrated abnormal findings in 8 (89%) and 4 (29%) patients, respectively. The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) for patients with RO+ MS-LCH was less than that for those without risk-organ involvement (RO−) MS-LCH and SS-LCH (20% vs. 100%, P = 0.005). Hematological dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia may be worse prognostic factors for RO+ MS-LCH. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET-CT might have a greater accuracy to detect LCH disease than conventional plain X-ray and Tc-99m bone imaging. RO+ MS-LCH has been encountered with relapse and poor outcomes. Hematopoietic involvement, hypoalbuminemia, and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia may be worse prognostic factors for RO+ MS-LCH.