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Generalized histiocytosis X in the elderly: a light and electron microscope and monoclonal antibody study
Author(s) -
SLATER D.N.,
ROONEY N.,
HARRINGTON CHRISTINE,
TUCKER W.F.G.,
BECK S.,
WALKER ANNE E.,
GRUNDMAN M.J.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1984.tb02411.x
Subject(s) - birbeck granules , immunoperoxidase , pathology , monoclonal antibody , histiocytosis x , histiocytosis , electron microscope , histiocyte , antigen , ultrastructure , medicine , antibody , disease , langerhans cell , immunology , physics , optics
Two elderly female patients are described with generalized histiocytosis X (Letterer‐Siwe disease). In each case, a definitive diagnosis was not established until ultrastructural and immunoperoxidase investigations had been performed. The histopathological findings in skin biopsies from each patient were similar. Light microscopy demonstrated a bandlike epidermotrophic cellular infiltrate which included large atypical cells (histiocytosis X cells). Electron microscopy showed that these cells contained Birbeck granules. Monoclonal antibody studies demonstrated the presence of T6, T4 and HLA‐DR surface antigens. Lysozyme and alpha‐1‐antitrypsin were absent from the cells. The associated cellular infiltrate included T4 and T8 positive lymphocytes. It is possible that more cases of generalized histiocytosis X in adults will be identified with the increasing use of specialized histopathological techniques and that the disease is more common than currently believed.