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HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL Histiocytic Lesions of the Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin Skin Nancy Lee Harris, M. D. Nancy Lee Harris, M. D. Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School
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Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin - Yourhosting and... · Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin that Might ... Unisystem (bone/soft tissue, skin, lymph node, lung [some ...

Apr 22, 2018

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Page 1: Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin - Yourhosting and... · Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin that Might ... Unisystem (bone/soft tissue, skin, lymph node, lung [some ...

HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Histiocytic Lesions of the Histiocytic Lesions of the  SkinSkin

Nancy Lee Harris, M. D.Nancy Lee Harris, M. D.Massachusetts General HospitalMassachusetts General Hospital

Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin: Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin:  DisclosureDisclosure

• I am not an expert on this!

• Sophie and Jonathan: “We’re sure you’ll do a 

great job!”⁻

My translation: “The experts turned us down. We’re 

sure you’ll read up on it, find some cool cases, and 

share with us what you’ve learned.”

• Focus: Cases that Dermatopathologists

might 

show to a Hematopathologist

(what we need to  know!)

⁻ Not the zillion things they sign out themselves (from 

xanthelasma

to sarcoidosis)

⁻ Emphasize things we don’t typically think about and 

won’t find in Hematopathology

WHO book or texts 

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin that Might  be Shown to a Hematopathologist

Benign/reactive lesions⁻

Rosai‐Dorfman disease

⁻ Intravascular histiocytosis

Uncertain (non‐Langerhans’

cell histiocytoses)⁻

Xanthogranuloma

group

⁻ Reticulohistiocytoma

group

Neoplastic/malignant lesions⁻

Langerhans cell histiocytosis

⁻ Langerhans

cell sarcoma

⁻ IDC sarcoma

⁻ FDC sarcoma

⁻ Histiocytic sarcoma

⁻ Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

GMGM--CSFCSFILIL--44TGFTGF--ββ

LangerhansLangerhans DCDCLangerinLangerin++CD1a+CD1a+S100+S100+

GMGM--CSFCSFILIL--44

Interstitial DCInterstitial DCCD1aCD1a

--FXIIIaFXIIIa++CD68+CD68+CD168+CD168+

DCSIGN+DCSIGN+

CD14CD14--CD11c+CD11c+CD1a+CD1a+CLA+CLA+

GMGM--CSFCSFTNFTNF--aa

CD14CD14--CD11cCD11c--CD1aCD1a--BDCA2+BDCA2+CD123+CD123+

FLT3LFLT3L

PlasmacytoidPlasmacytoid

DCDC

IL3IL3CD40LCD40LInterdigitatingInterdigitatingDCDC

LangerinLangerin--CD1aCD1a

--S100+S100+

MM--CSFCSF

Follicular DCFollicular DCCD21CD21CD23CD23CD35CD35

DesmoplakinDesmoplakin

MonocyteMonocyteCD14+CD14+CD11c+CD11c+CD68+CD68+CD1aCD1a--CLACLA--

CD34+CD34+

MyeloidMyeloidstem cellstem cell

HistiocyteHistiocyteCD14+CD14+CD11c+CD11c+CD68+CD68+CD163+CD163+

MesenchymalMesenchymalstem cellstem cell

TT

iiss

ss

uu

ee

ss

In vitroIn vitro

Veiled CellVeiled Cell

LangerinLangerin--CD1a+CD1a+

S100+S100+

Fibroblastic Fibroblastic reticulum reticulum

cellcellMuscle Muscle actinactin++

KeratinsKeratins--/+/+

BB

lloo

oo

dd

pp

rr

ee

cc

uu

rr

ss

oo

rr

ss

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Benign/reactive histiocytic

lesions•

Rosai‐Dorfman

disease

Intravascular histiocytosis

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Rosai‐Dorfman disease:  Cutaneous Manifestations

Extranodal involvement: 25‐40%⁻

Skin (9%) > upper respiratory tract > soft tissue > orbit > 

bone > salivary gland > CNS > breast > pancreas*•

Primary presentation in skin = rare⁻

Median age 45yr (older than nodal cases)

⁻ Female predominance (unlike nodal cases)

⁻ Whites and Asians predominate (ditto)

Clinical features⁻

Solitary or multiple dermal or subcutaneous nodules or 

plaques on face, trunk or extremities⁻

May resolve spontaneously or become chronic

*Rezk et al, Diagnostic Hematopathology, Ch. 51, 2010

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64-Year-Old African American Woman: 8 cm painful nodule on abdomen

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S100

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39 Year‐Old African‐American Woman:  4 cm subcutaneous plaque on flank

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CD20              CD3    

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Diagnostic Area

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Enperipolesis

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Rosai‐Dorfman

Disease: Features•

Involvement of dermis, subcutis, either or both

Large S100+ histiocytes with prominent nucleoli  and emperipolesis

⁻ May be present only very focally extranodal sites

⁻ May form aggregates that resemble sinuses

Numerous plasma cells, neutrophils, histiocytes  may be present, especially at edges of lesion

Characteristic edematous plasma‐cell‐rich  background

⁻ A clue to look for the large histiocytes

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Intralymphatic histiocytosis•

Dilated lymphatics containing histiocytes⁻

Frequent association with rheumatoid arthritis

⁻ Erythematous plaques near affected joints

• 16 cases reported by Requena

et al

⁻ 12 on arms or legs

5 rheumatoid arthritis

2 in scar of THR

2 in scar of mastectomy⁻

1 presented as unilateral swelling of the eyelid

Clinical diagnosis: Melkerson‐Rosenthal syndrome

Requena et al. Am J Dermatopathol 2009;31:140-51

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Intralymphatic Histiocytosis•

56‐year‐old man⁻

History of mild facial rosacea

⁻ MGUS

⁻ 2‐year history of unilateral periorbital edema

Difficulty opening his eye

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Diagnosis•

Changes consistent with granulomatous

rosacea

(dilated blood vessels, superfical edema, perifollicular

and perivascular

granulomatous

inflammation)•

Demodex

follicularum

⁻ Often associated with rosacea

Intralymphatic

histiocytosis

with marked  superficial and deep dermal edema

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Intralymphatic histiocytosis•

Dilated lymphatics containing histiocytes⁻

Frequent association with rheumatoid arthritis

⁻ Erythematous plaques near affected joints

16 cases reported by Requena

et al⁻

12 on arms or legs

⁻ 5 rheumatoid arthritis

⁻ 2 in scar of THR

⁻ 2 in scar of mastectomy

⁻ 1 presented as unilateral swelling of the eyelid

Clinical diagnosis: Melkerson‐Rosenthal syndrome

Requena et al. Am J Dermatopathol 2009;31:140-51

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Solid Facial Edema of Rosacea

Unilateral periorbital/facial swelling in a patient with 

rosacea⁻

Rare complication, may be presenting symptom⁻

Unresponsive to treatment for rosacea

(antibiotics)•

Related entities:⁻

Solid facial edema of acne⁻

Morbihan’s

syndrome (idiopathic)⁻

Melkerson‐Rosenthal syndrome/granulomatous

cheilitis

Facial/lip swelling

Furrowed tongue

Facial nerve palsy

May be familial•

Characteristic features⁻

Edema in all layers of the dermis⁻

Perivascular

and periadnexal

inflammatory infiltrates⁻

No mention of intravascular histiocytes

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLSolid Facial Edema and  Intralymphatic

Histiocytosis

Two cases:⁻

Case 15 of Requena

(rosacea

history not known)⁻

Current case (mild rosacea)•

Both characterized by granuloma‐like lymphohistiocytic

clusters in dermal lymphatics⁻

Distinct from bland, purely histiocytic

collections in 

RA/scar‐associated cases

Blockage of lymphatics

by histiocytes

may produce edema•

Our case⁻

Methotrexate

and prednisone (given because of diagnosis 

of “histiocytosis”

[a neoplasm]): no response⁻

Clinicians were contemplating radiation ⁻

Case re‐reviewed and edema of rosacea

suggested

Currently on isotretinoin

therapy

Rx of demodex

with metronidazole

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Histiocytoses

• Xanthogranuloma

group 

• Reticulohistiocytoma

group

• Langerhans

cell histiocytosis

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Xanthogranuloma Group

Normal counterpart⁻

Histiocyte

or interstitial dendritic cell •

Histopathology/Immunophenotype⁻

Histiocytic infiltrate with foam cells and Touton

giant cells⁻

CD68+ CD163+ F13a+ S100‐

CD1a‐

Langerin‐•

Clinical syndromes⁻

Localized cutaneous 

(Juvenile/adult xanthogranuloma)⁻

Disseminated cutaneous 

(JXG, progressive nodular and generalized eruptive histocytosis)⁻

Disseminated: skin, mucosae, CNS (diabetes insipidus), bones, 

soft tissue, lung, heart 

(Xanthoma

disseminatum, disseminated JXG, Erdheim

Chester 

Disease)

Genetic features⁻

Not known for cutaneous cases⁻

ECD clonal

in some (most?) cases

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Juvenile Xanthogranuloma•

(Not likely to be shown to a hematopathologist!)•

Clinical ⁻

Child (80%), young adult (20%)⁻

Cutaneous: solitary orange‐red‐brown lesions: head‐neck > 

trunk, limbs, oral cavity, eye

Disseminated: viscera, soft tissues, heart, CNS, bones•

Histology⁻

Histiocytes

with eosinophilic

or vacuolated cytoplasm, 

bland nuclei

Spindle cells⁻

Multinucleated Touton

giant cells

Peripheral rim of vacuolated cytoplasm

Central ring of nuclei

Inner zone of eosinophilic

cytoplasm

(May not be identifiable in extracutaneous

sites)

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL34‐Year‐Old Man

Pink Papule, Lower Abdomen

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Xanthoma

Disseminatum•

A 63‐year‐old man with ⁻

Diabetes insipidus

⁻ Skin lesions on face (eyelids, nasolabial

folds) 

and flexor surfaces of limbs (axillae, groin) ⁻

Submucosal

lesions of larynx with stenosis

and 

stridor

Case 12‐1988.NEJM 1988; 338: 1138

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Erdheim‐Chester Disease

Case Records of the Massachusetts General  Hospital 

Case 25‐2008 —A 43‐Year‐Old Man with Fatigue  and Lesions in the Pituitary and Cerebellum

John A. Mills,.D., R. Gilberto Gonzalez, M.D., Ph.D.,  and Ronald Jaffe, M.D.

N Engl

J MedVolume 359(7):736‐747

August 14, 2008

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLMRI Scans of the Brain

Mills J et al. N Engl J Med 2008;359:736-747

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLCT Scans of the Chest and Abdomen

Mills J et al. N Engl J Med 2008;359:736-747

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLPathologyPathology

Renal, perinephric

tissue biopsy ⁻

Mild, non‐diagnostic kidney changes

⁻ Histiocytic infiltrate in peri‐renal fat, nonspecific

Clinical diagnosis⁻

Neurosarcoidosis

with involvement of soft tissues; 

possible aortitis⁻

Rheumatology consultant (Dr. Mills) made the 

diagnosis of ECD based on the imaging studies•

Pathology re‐examined by Ron Jaffe

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLPathological Features of the Perirenal Infiltrate

CD68

CD168 F13A

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

PeriPeri‐‐renal Tissuesrenal Tissues

• Bland histiocytes, lacking malignant 

features•

Xanthomatous, foamy component

• Few giant cells, no Touton

giant cells 

⁻ No granulomas

or epithelioid

cells

⁻ No evidence of vasculitis

• Immunophenotype(CD68+ CD163+ 

F13A+ CD1a‐) consistent with ECD

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Characteristic Clinical Picture of ECD•

In this patient⁻

Hypothalamic‐pituitary axis, CNS⁻

Retroperitoneum, kidney⁻

Heart and peri‐aortic tissue⁻

Bone•

Other sites that may be involved⁻

Lung⁻

Orbit•

Tissue diagnosis⁻

Histiocytes, foam cells, +/‐

Touton

giant cells⁻

Foci of Langerhans

cells may occur⁻

May appear nonspecific; need clinical correlation⁻

Important to exclude granulomatous

diseases, vasculitis•

Mortality >50% due to lung, cardiac involvement

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Xanthogranuloma

Group•

A group of probably related diseases with similar 

histological and immunophenotypic

features but variable 

clinical manifestations•

Unisystem: Cutaneous (single/multiple)⁻

Juvenile xanthogranuloma

(single or multiple)⁻

Adult xanthogranuloma

(single)⁻

Generalized eruptive histiocytosis

(multiple, relapsing)⁻

Progressive nodular histiocytosis

(multiple)•

Multisystem⁻

Xanthoma

disseminatum

Skin, CNS (diabetes insipidus, mucosae) ⁻

Disseminated JXG [child]/Erdheim‐Chester disease [adult]

Bones, CNS (diabetes insipidus), soft tissue, lung, skin (in 

children; rarely in adults)

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Reticulohistiocytoma

Group•

Clinical⁻

Nodular yellow papules, single or multiple (face, hands, 

ears) 

(Reticulohistiocytoma) ⁻

Systemic condition with skin lesions, destructive arthritis, 

fever; occasionally with occult malignancy (25%), 

rheumatic disease 

(Multicentric

reticulohistioctyosis)⁻

Both: mucous membranes (nose, oral cavity)⁻

F>M, child or adult•

Morphology: ⁻

Bland nuclei, eosinophilic

ground glass cytoplasm, giant 

cells (non‐Touton)

Similar infiltrate in affected joints•

Immunophenotype⁻

CD68+ S100‐

CD1a‐

lysozyme+/‐

F13a‐

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLMulticentric

Reticulohistiocytosis

Adult F with generalized papular eruption, fever, uveitis.Courtesy of Jonathan Said and Larry Weiss

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Multicentric

Reticulohistiocytosis

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Multicentric

reticulohistiocytosis

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Multicentric

Reticulohistiocytosis•

Immunophenotype⁻

CD68+ CD163+ S100+ 

⁻ Lysozyme, CD15, CD30, EMA, CD4: negative

Morphologic features most c/w multicentric

reticulohistiocytosis

⁻ Atypical immunophenotype

⁻ No mention of arthritis

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• A clonal

tumor of Langerhans

cells

• Two subtypes⁻

Langerhans

cell histiocytosis

Morphologically typical Langerhans

cells⁻

Langerhans

cell sarcoma

High‐grade sarcomatous

lesion with the 

immunophenotype of LC

• Morphology (LCH)⁻

Grooved nuclei, eosinophils

• Immunophenotype⁻

S100+ CD1a+ Langerin+ Birbeck

granules (EM)

⁻ CD68 variable, lysozyme‐

Langerhans

Cell Neoplasms

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Langerhans

Cell Histiocytosis•

Unisystem

(bone/soft tissue, skin, lymph node, lung [some 

cases])⁻

Unicentric

(single site)

Eosinophilic

granuloma⁻

Multicentric

(multiple cutaneous or bony sites)

Hand‐Schuller‐Christian disease (bone and adjacent soft 

tissue, pituitary stalk; skin may be involved [multisystem])

Multisystem⁻

Acute (Letterer Siwe

disease)

Skin, bone, liver, spleen, lung, lymph nodes, bone marrow⁻

Chronic (Hand‐Schuller‐Christian disease) •

Prognosis⁻

Good for unisystem

disease⁻

May be poor for multisystem disease ~50% mortality in LS

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

84‐Year‐Old Woman Lesions on Chest and Arm

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LCH CD1A

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Histiocytoses: Common Features

Within each group, tumors of identical cells have a 

spectrum of clinical presentation and behavior⁻

Child vs

adult⁻

Localized vs

disseminated⁻

Unisystem

vs

multisystem•

Nomenclature traditionally based on clinical presentation⁻

Leads to a confusing array of names/eponyms •

Problem largely solved for LCH group⁻

Known to be clonal, neoplastic⁻

Classify by systems involved (stage)⁻

Unclear what genetic abnormalities underly

behavior•

Need unifying nomenclature for the other 2⁻

Evidence that ECD is clonal; lacking for others⁻

Rarity of lesions hampers further study

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLHistiocytoses

Revisited

Xanthogranuloma

group ⁻

Unisystem

(skin)

Unicentric

Multicentric⁻

Multisytem

Skin, CNS, bone, soft tissue, mucosae, heart, lungs•

Reticulohistiocytoma

group⁻

Unisystem

(skin)

Unicentric

Multicentric⁻

Multisystem

Skin, joints•

Langerhans

cell histiocytosis

(clonal)⁻

Unisystem

(skin, bone, lymph node, lung)

Unicentric

Multicentric⁻

Multisystem

Skin, bone, liver, spleen, lung, lymph nodesbone

marrow

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Neoplastic

Diseases•

Langerhans

cell histiocytosis

FDC sarcoma•

IDC sarcoma

Histiocytic sarcoma•

Blastic

plasmacytoid

dendritic cell tumor

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Interdigitating

Dendritic Cell Sarcoma

A tumor of cells resembling IDC of lymph  nodes

Lymph nodes > skin, soft tissues•

Oval to spindled cells, variable nuclear 

atypia, lymphocyte‐rich background•

S100+ CD1a‐

FDC markers–

CD68+/‐

lysozyme‐/+ ; lymphocytes T>>B•

Clinically aggressive, often fatal

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

IDC Sarcoma WHO 2008

S100

IDC Sarcoma WHO 208

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Follicular Dendritic Cell sarcoma•

A neoplasm of oval to spindled cells with 

morphology and immunophenotype of FDC•

Lymph nodes (2/3), skin, soft tissue, GI, liver, 

spleen•

Spindled cells with bland nuclei, often binucleate, 

forming whorls; lymphocyte‐rich background  with follicles

Immunophenotype⁻

CD21+ CD23+ CD35+ CD68‐/+ S100‐/+ CD1a‐

⁻ Lymphocytes B>T

Usually indolent, may recur after excision; late  metastases, death in up to 20%

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLFollicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma of Skin

67F lesion of lower leg; ipsilateral

inguinal lymphadenopathy

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

FDC Skin: Follicles

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

FDC Skin Cytologic

Features 

CD21

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Histiocytic Sarcoma•

Malignant tumor with morphologic and 

immunophenotypic

features of a mature tissue  histiocyte

Sites⁻

GI tract, skin, soft tissues, lymph nodes

⁻ Solitary or multiple cutaneous nodules

Large eosinophilic

cells, giant cells, vacuoles•

Immunophenotype⁻

Lysozyme, CD68, CD168 positive

⁻ Myeloperoxidase, CD1a, FDC markers negative

⁻ CD45+/‐

CD4+/‐

CD43+ S100 variable

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Histiocytic Sarcoma  50F: bilateral tonsillar

enlargement

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOL

Histiocytic Sarcoma: Immunophenotype

CD1AS100

CD68 LYSOZYME

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Histiocytic Sarcoma: DDX•

Non‐hematopoietic tumors⁻

Melanoma

⁻ Other sarcomas

Other hematopoietic tumors (more  common!)

⁻ Myeloid or monocytic

leukemia

⁻ Blastic

plasmacytoid

dendritic cell tumor

⁻ Dendritic cell sarcomas

⁻ T‐cell or B‐cell lymphomas

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HARVARDMEDICAL SCHOOLBlastic

Plasmacytoid

Dendritic Cell 

Neoplasm•

A tumour

of a precursor of the plasmacytoid

dendritic cell (professional type 1 interferon  producing cell or plasmacytoid

monocyte), 

involving skin and bone marrow•

Sites: ⁻

Skin, bone marrow, lymph nodes

• Morphology: ⁻

Monomorphous

medium‐sized blastic

cells; 

mitoses•

Immunophenotype: ⁻

CD4+ CD56+ CD123+ BCDA1+ Tcl1+ CD68+ 

(50%) TdT

+ (30%)⁻

CD2, CD7, CD33 variably+

⁻ CD3‐

CD5‐

CD20‐

MPO‐

lysozyme‐

CD34‐

GCP‐

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BPDC Cutaneous Lesions

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BPDC Immunophenotype

CD123 CD4

CD56 CD3

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BPDC: Differential Diagnosis•

Leukemic infiltrate of AML or T‐ALL⁻

May be CD33+ CD2+ CD7+

⁻ AML or ALL may be CD56+

⁻ Monocytes

may be CD123+

⁻ Absence of MPO, CD3 helpful; need a broad panel

⁻ Treatment like AML, so distinction may not affect 

management•

Expansion of mature PDC in MDS/AMML⁻

Expression of CD56, TdT

⁻ Increased proliferation fraction

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Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin: Summary•

A heterogeneous group that range from idiopathic/reactive 

to aggressive malignancies

True neoplasms

are relatively straightforward⁻

Rare, and thus always challenging⁻

Some cases cannot be classified precisely by normal 

counterpart

Extensive immunophenotyping

often required•

Idiopathic/non‐LCH histiocytoses

more difficult⁻

Histologic

and immunophenotypic

features may not 

distinguish nonspecific histiocytic

infiltrates from  

specific lesions and histiocytoses

Small biopsies yield non‐diagnostic areas (RDD)⁻

Characteristic cells may be lacking in non‐lymph node or 

non‐cutaneous sites

Emperipolesis

less common in skin (RDD)

Touton

giant cells less common in soft tissue (ECD)

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Histiocytic Lesions of the Skin:  Summary

Need clues to look for diagnostic cells⁻

Plasma cells, edema, histiocytes, neutrophils: think of RDD⁻

Foamy cells in soft tissue with no apparent cause: think of 

ECD

Don’t “blow off”

a histiocytic

infiltrate (cutaneous or non‐

cutaneous) as non‐specific inflammation without a search 

for the cause⁻

Discuss with clinicians whether there is reason to suspect a 

histiocytosis

Avoid the term “histiocytosis”

for obviously reactive lesions ⁻

E.g. “Intralymphatic

histiocytosis”⁻

Clinicians may interpret this as indicating a neoplastic

process

I hope this was helpful!

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Acknowledgments•

Judith Ferry

Russell Ryan•

Valentina Nardi

Rosalyn Nazarian•

Lyn Duncan

Jonathan Said•

Ronald Jaffe

Others….

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I’ll be happy to answer any questions….

Dan Harris, ABC news, Kandahar (Oct 2001)