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High incidence of hearing loss in long‐term survivors of multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Author(s) -
Nanduri Vasanta,
Tatevossian Ruth,
Sirimanna Tony
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.22186
Subject(s) - medicine , langerhans cell histiocytosis , hearing loss , incidence (geometry) , histiocytosis , referral , pediatrics , audiology , disease , pathology , physics , family medicine , optics
Background Ear involvement in the acute phase of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is commonly seen and well documented, but the long‐term sequelae are less well described, particularly in relation to hearing loss. Methods We investigated 40 patients with biopsy‐proven multisystem LCH >5 years from the end of treatment, using detailed audiological assessment and CT/MRI imaging of the petrous temporal bones. Results The incidence of ear involvement in the acute phase of disease was 70%. Fifteen of the 39 patients tested (38%) had residual permanent hearing loss at long‐term follow‐up. Conclusions The incidence of hearing loss is much higher than has previously been reported in LCH, and may reflect a referral bias of young (<2 years) and more complex patients to our tertiary centre. However, the hearing loss appears to be highly specific to this patient group when compared to other long‐term survivors of childhood cancers, probably due to the propensity of LCH to involve the ears. We therefore recommend audiology testing as an important part of long‐term follow‐up for patients with multisystem LCH. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:449–453. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.