Sciatica Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sciatica, including details on treatment, prevention, medication.

Radiculopathy as a manifestation of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.

Baillet A, Grange L, Lafaix PA, Gaudin P, Juvin R

Rheumatology Department, Grenoblre Teaching Hospital, CHU Grenoble, Avenue de Kimberley, BP 338, 38434 Echirolles Cedex, France.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare condition of children and young adults in which Langerhans' cells proliferate. The clinical spectrum ranges from solitary or few focal lesions to multisystem involvement mimicking vasculitis or hematological malignancy. Focal bone lesions, known as eosinophilic granulomas, are the most common manifestations. Eosinophilic granuloma usually presents with a variable combination of pain, swelling, fracture, and fever. Facial bone involvement may manifest as an ear discharge, hearing loss, or exophthalmos. Nerve root pain is rarely reported, even in patients with lesions in the axial skeleton. We report four cases of nerve root pain caused by LCH. Two male patients aged 25 and 34years, respectively, presented with truncated femoral neuralgia related to acetabular granulomas. A 25-year-old woman with involvement of the L5 vertebral body and a 41-year-old man with a sacral lesion presented with sciatica.

Published 8 March 2007 in Joint Bone Spine.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Sciatica Research Today. All Rights Reserved.