Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Post-Hodgkin Lymphoma Completely Resolved With Vinblastine in a Heavy Smoker: Coincidence or Causation?

The association among Langerhans cell histiocytosis, hematolymphoid malignancies, and heavy smoking has been addressed in medical literature to identify a possible potential link. Such occurrence can pose diagnostic challenges, as well as important clinical implications for disease progression and treatment approaches. We present pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis instance in a 35-year-old male patient, with a 34-pack-year smoking history and nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma stage IIB who developed multiple bilateral lung nodules. The patient completed 6 cycles of doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine chemotherapy and radiotherapy 2 years earlier. CT chest scans revealed numerous micronodules scattered randomly throughout the upper and lower left lung lobes. Subsequent wedge resection exhibited cellular proliferation with grooved nuclei, eosinophilic cytoplasm, and surrounding inflammatory components. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive staining for S100 and CD1a confirming a diagnosis of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The patient responded to a 6-week treatment with vinblastine and prednisolone. A subsequent CT scan of the lungs revealed complete resolution after 3 years. This report underscores the importance of identifying pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis in heavy smokers with Hodgkin lymphoma presenting with multiple nodular pulmonary lesions. For patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and a possible genetic predisposition, smoking may contribute to the overt development of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Therefore, smoking cessation and careful follow-up examinations are required. Further research is recommended to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this intriguing association.