Pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis (histiocytosis X): clinical analysis of 8 cases.

A detailed retrospective analysis of 8 cases has been set up to obtain an update of the clinical, radiological, diagnostic and therapeutical aspects of pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis (PLCG), previously called Histiocytosis X. This disease represents 2.8% of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) in a registration by pneumologists in Flanders. Seventy five% of our patients were active smokers. Cough, dyspnoe and constitutional symptoms were the main presenting symptoms. There was a 37.5% frequency of pneumothorax during the whole disease evolution and all these patients had to be treated with chemical or surgical pleurodesis. Spirometric pattern was variable but CO-transferfactor (TLCO) was significantly impaired in all our patients. Radiologically nodules and/or cystic lesions were found with preserved volumes. Open lung biopsy led to the diagnosis in 6 of the 8 cases. Transbronchial biopsies (TBB) were found to be not sensitive. Systemic staging in our group showed 50% of the patients to have a second focus of organ involvement. Treatment with corticosteroids and possibly immunosuppressives was without clear effect. Since 25% of our patients ultimately became candidate for lung transplantation extrapulmonary staging is prerogative and the high frequency of pleurodesis procedures in the past medical history of our patients has important implications since bilateral pleurodesis is still a contraindication for lung transplantation in some but not all institutions.