Histiocitosis de células de Langerhans, una afección pulmonar infradiagnosticada en fumadores: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Langerhans cell histiocytosis, an underdiagnosed lung condition in smokers: case report and literature review

La histiocitosis de células de Langerhans (HCL) es una enfermedad que puede afectar a pacientes de cualquier edad, siendo en adultos un trastorno poco común de etiología desconocida, que ocurre predominantemente en fumadores jóvenes, sin diferencias en género. Aunque ciertas particularidades de la enfermedad pueden compartirse con las manifestaciones presentes en la población pediátrica, la proporción de casos con afectación pulmonar es mucho mayor en adultos. A menudo evoluciona a través de brotes sucesivos y su gravedad varía desde formas benignas hasta potencialmente mortales. Algunos pacientes desarrollan un importante deterioro funcional con repercusión psicosocial, que impacta en la calidad de vida y se asocia a discapacidad prolongada. La clave diagnóstica estará determinada por el antecedente de tabaquismo, la presencia de nódulos, nódulos cavitados y quistes de paredes gruesas y delgadas en la tomografía computarizada de tórax de alta resolución (TACAR). Sin embargo, el diagnóstico definitivo requiere la identificación de granulomas de células de Langerhans, que generalmente se logra mediante la realización de una biopsia pulmonar y su estudio histopatológico e inmunohistoquímico. En la actualidad, podríamos considerar a esta entidad como una enfermedad huérfana, de la cual aún no se tiene claridad del mecanismo patogénico, y que, por ende, aún no dispone de estrategias terapéuticasespecíficas. El objetivo de esta revisión está centrado en la aproximación diagnóstica y terapéutica de la histiocitosis de células de Langerhans en adultos,que permita facilitar su reconocimiento en etapas tempranas y mejorar el pronóstico en las personas que la padecen

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease that can affect patients of any age, but in adults it is a rare disorder of unknown etiology that occurs predominantly in young smokers, without differences in gender. Although certain peculiarities of the disease can be the same than in the pediatric population, the proportion of cases with pulmonary involvement is much higher in adults. It often evolves through successive flare-ups and its severity ranges from benign tolife-threatening. Some patients develop significant functional impairment with psychosocial repercussions, that impact the quality of life and are associated with prolonged disability. The diagnostic key will be determined by the history of smoking, and the presence of nodules, cavitated nodules, and thick and thin-walled cysts on high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT). However, the definitive diagnosis requires the identification of Langerhans cell granulomas, which is generally achieved by performing a lung biopsy and its histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Today, we could consider this a rare entity, of which there is no clear pathogenic mechanism, and therefore, does not have yet specific therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this review is centered on the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in adults, which allows its recognition in early stages and improve the prognosis in people who suffer from it

Nodular Pulmonary Amyloidosis: A Manifestation of Sjögren's Syndrome.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 72-year-old woman with primary Sjögren Syndrome (SS) was diagnosed during an inpatient hospital stay with dry symptoms. The patient had respiratory and constitutional symptoms, requiring a pulmonary imaging evaluation by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the thorax. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Multiple cavitary pulmonary nodules, halo sign, and focal areas of ground-glass opacity with predominance in both bases were found in the images. Complementary studies were done where a neoplastic focus was ruled out. The diagnosis of nodular pulmonary amyloidosis was confirmed with a pulmonary biopsy performed by videothoracoscopy for histopathological study, which reported the formation of nodules in the parenchyma with amyloid deposits and positive immunohistochemical markers for CD3, CD20, and CD38 lymphocytic infiltration. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Initial inpatient management with intravenous cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone was given. Subsequent outpatient management was given with high dose glucocorticoids. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We presented a case of nodular pulmonary amyloidosis in a female patient with primary SS, which is a rare pulmonary manifestation of this syndrome.