Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of the temporal lobe and pons

Br J Neurosurg. 2004 Apr;18(2):174-80. doi: 10.1080/02688690410001681055.

Abstract

Intracerebral Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is rare and tends to involve the hypothalamus. The authors report a rare case of LCH in the temporal lobe that subsequently was followed by a brainstem lesion. This appears to be the first case of temporal lobe and brainstem LCH that has been treated successfully and published. A 24-year-old man complained of cacosmia and nausea with a slight headache. He had a left temporal LCH, which was removed completely, but developed a brainstem lesion a year later. The pontine LCH was treated with radiosurgery. The follow-up period was 4 years without any neurological or radiological symptoms or signs. The 12 cases of solitary intracranial non-hypothalamic LCH reported previously are reviewed. Gamma knife radiosurgery effectively controlled the local growth of the pontine LCH without adverse effect.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Pons / pathology
  • Pons / surgery*
  • Radiosurgery
  • Temporal Lobe / pathology
  • Temporal Lobe / surgery*