Pulmonary Langerhans'cell histiocytosis presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule

Abstract

Pulmonary Langerhans'cell histiocytosis (PLH) is a granulomatous disorder characterized by Langerhans'cell proliferation mainly confined to the lung. The radiographic features of the disease are usually bilateral and diffuse abnormalities. Localized pulmonary lesions have been reported rarely. We report a case of a symptomless 73-year-old man with PLH presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule. The patient had a previous history of resection of colon cancer 3 years earlier, and was admitted to our hospital because a nodular lesion had been detected on chest CT performed as part of a routine check up.rThe lesion was 0.5cm in diameter located in the right upper lobe. Because a diagnosis of metastatic tumor was suggested, the patient underwent wedge resection of the nodule. Histological examination of the pulmonary nodule revealed PLH.