Lung Involvement in Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman Disease: Clinical and Radiological Features and Response to the MEK Inhibitor Cobimetinib

Chest. 2020 Feb;157(2):323-333. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.09.036. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Abstract

Background: Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare multisystemic histiocytosis. Pulmonary involvement during RDD has been poorly described. The goal of this study was to examine the clinical presentations, radiological features, and outcomes of 15 patients with RDD and lung involvement.

Methods: The cases of RDD with lung involvement were extracted from the French National Histiocytosis registry. Efficacy of the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib in treating lung disease was evaluated with an 18fluorodeoxyglucose PET scanner and chest CT scans.

Results: Fifteen patients (six women; median age, 40 years at RDD diagnosis) were included. All patients had evidence of systemic disease with extrapulmonary localizations of the disease (lymphadenopathy [n = 12], skin [n = 9], bones [n = 6], retroperitoneal involvement [n = 3], sinuses [n = 3], parotid gland [n = 2], submandibular gland [n = 1], and breast [n = 1]). Presenting symptoms were dominated by dyspnea and dry cough in seven patients. Restrictive physiology was observed in two of five patients. BAL showed lymphocytosis in one of five cases. Eight patients received corticosteroids, all but one with variable immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies. Two patients received cobimetinib for severe lung disease, with dramatic pulmonary metabolic and tumoral responses. Two patients died during follow-up: one of hemoptysis, and the other of an unrelated cerebral tumor.

Conclusions: Pulmonary involvement in RDD is rare, proteiform, and sometimes severe. The MEK inhibitor cobimetinib can lead to dramatic responses.

Keywords: Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman; histiocytosis; interstitial disease; lung disease; pulmonary fibrosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Azetidines / therapeutic use
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Cough / etiology
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • France
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / complications
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / diagnostic imaging
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / drug therapy
  • Histiocytosis, Sinus / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / etiology
  • Lung Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Lymphocytosis / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Azetidines
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Piperidines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • cobimetinib