PET/CT Imaging for Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Involving Only Posterior Elements of the Cervical Vertebra

Abstract

Langerhans cell histiocytosis only involving the posterior elements of the spine is rare. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy who has pain and restricted motion of his neck. 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed an osteolytic lesion in the posterior elements of the fourth cervical vertebra. The lesion has high 18F-FDG uptake with an SUVmax of 8.01. An operation was performed, and the final pathological finding revealed Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

PET/CT Showing a Case of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Involving the Pleura

“…4,5 Adult LCH can affect any organ or system of the body but most frequently affects the bone, the lungs among smokers, and the skin. 3,[6][7][8][9][10][11] In our case, LCH involved only the pleura. Mesothelioma, 12 metastasis, 13 lymphoma, 14 nocardiosis, 15 IgG4-related disease, 16 and malignant nerve sheath tumors 17 can involve the pleura and show abnormal FDG uptake on PET/CT.…”

“…Adult LCH is less common, with an incidence of approximately 1–2/million 4,5 . Adult LCH can affect any organ or system of the body but most frequently affects the bone, the lungs among smokers, and the skin 3,6–11 . In our case, LCH involved only the pleura.…”