[Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of the dorsal spine. A rare etiology of spinal cord compression].

INTRODUCTION

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the thoracic spine is a rare condition in adults. It is a serious condition with an increased risk of spinal cord compression.

EXEGESIS

A 55-year-old man complained of lumbar and back pain. He developed a spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a spinal cord compression due to bone and epidural tumoral lesions of the eleventh and twelfth thoracic vertebrae, located in the posterior elements of the spine. A surgical biopsy showed an infiltrate of eosinophilic cells, positive for CD1a in immunohistochemistry studies. Final diagnosis was therefore langerhans cell histiocytosis of the thoracic spine complicated by spinal cord compression. The patient received glucocorticoid therapy combined with vinblastine followed by local radiotherapy and etoposide. However, the neurological deficit persisted and the patient finally died.

CONCLUSION

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare cause of spinal cord compression.