Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Last revised by Dr Vardan Abrahamyan on 13 Mar 2023

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) may be seen as part of widespread involvement in patients with disseminated Langerhans cell histiocytosis or more frequently as a distinct entity in young adult smokers. This article focuses on the latter. 

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis is usually identified in young adults (20-40 years of age). A history of current or previous cigarette smoking is identified in up to 95% of cases 1,4. It is a rare disorder with no well-established gender predilection, which appears to be more common in White populations 4.

Hematopoietic neoplasms:

Presentation is usually with dyspnea or non-productive cough. Other symptoms include constitutional symptoms (fatigue and weight loss), pleuritic chest pain, or spontaneous pneumothorax 1,4.  Up to a quarter of patients are asymptomatic.

Langerhans cells proliferate in the bronchiolar and bronchial epithelium, forming granulomas. It is postulated that as these cellular granulomas evolve, peripheral fibrosis forms resulting in traction on the central bronchiole which becomes cyst-like 3. This explains the presumed evolution from a nodule, through cavitating nodule and thick-walled cysts, to the "stable" thin-walled cysts 3,4. An immune-mediated mechanism has been postulated, although an inciting agent has not been isolated 4. This proliferation is accompanied by inflammation and granuloma formation. Electron microscopy may reveal characteristic Birbeck granules 1,2.

More recent evidence suggests that pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis represents a myeloid neoplasm with inflammatory properties 9.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis has variable appearance depending on the stage of the disease, ranging from small peribronchiolar nodular opacities to multiple irregularly-shaped cysts. There is a mid and upper zone predilection 1,3,4

The earliest change is a diffuse bilateral symmetrical reticulonodular pattern with a predilection for the mid and upper zones. The ill-defined nodules range from 1-10 mm in size. Later, cyst formation may be seen or may mimic a honeycomb appearance due to a summation of air-filled cysts. Cysts can be identified in only 1-15% of cases 1, and range from 1-3 cm in diameter. There is a preservation of lung volumes or even hyperinflation 1,3,4. Reduced lung volumes are uncommon and only seen in end-stage fibrotic cases 4. Lymph node enlargement visible on chest x-ray is rare 4.

As is usually the case, CT and especially HRCT is superior to plain chest radiography in identifying both the reticulonodular opacities and cysts 1,3,4. Distribution is the key in differentiating pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis from other cystic lung diseases with a predilection for the mid and upper zones and regional sparing of the costophrenic recesses, anterior right middle lobe and lingula of the left upper lobe 1,3,4

  • nodules
    • more pronounced early in the disease
    • may range in number from a few to innumerable
    • 1-10 mm in diameter (typically 1-5 mm 4)
    • centrilobular distribution: may also be peribronchial or peribronchiolar
    • usually have irregular margins
    • may be cavitary nodules with thick walls, later becoming cysts
    • surrounding lung parenchyma appears normal
  • cysts
    • more pronounced later in the disease
    • usually less than 10 mm in diameter
    • may measure up to 2-3 cm in size
    • the extreme bases may be preserved
    • usually thin-walled, but on occasion may be up to a few millimeters thick
    • confluence of 2 or more cysts results in bizarre shapes
      • bilobed
      • cloverleaf
      • branching
      • internal septations

Other common findings include 1,3:

In late disease, other findings include:

The appearance of new nodules later in the disease (when cystic change is established) indicates disease progression but is a rare finding 3.

Overall prognosis is generally good with over 50% of patients demonstrating spontaneous resolution or stabilization even without treatment 3. This is especially the case in patients who stop smoking.

In a minority of patients (~20%) and more frequently in those who continue to smoke, the disease is progressive with deterioration in respiratory function and eventual end-stage pulmonary fibrosis 3.

Treatment may not be required once smoking has ceased. Corticosteroids are frequently used and appear beneficial. In patients with rapidly progressive disease, no proven therapy has been found. In some selected patients lung transplantation may be an option, provided smoking has ceased. Recurrence in the transplanted lung has been described 4.

Differential depends on whether the nodular or cystic change is the dominant feature. 

Early in the disease, when nodules are the dominant feature, consider:

See differential of multiple pulmonary nodules and differential of miliary opacities for more comprehensive lists.

Later in the disease, when cysts are prominent, consider:

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