Published online Jun 28, 2024. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v16.i6.232
Revised: April 29, 2024
Accepted: May 17, 2024
Published online: June 28, 2024
Processing time: 160 Days and 19.2 Hours
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by diabetes insipidus and is an uncommon occurrence. Pathological biopsies still have a certain degree of diagnostic probability. We present a case in which LCH initially affected the pituitary gland. This resulted in a misdiagnosis of chronic inflammation upon pathological examination.
A 25-year-old female exhibited symptoms of diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhanced foci in the pituitary gland. After surgical resection of the pituitary lesion, the pathological diagnosis was chronic inflammation. However, the patient later experienced bone destruction in the skull and lower limb bones. After the lower limb bone lesion was compared with the initial pituitary lesion, the final diagnosis was modified to LCH. The patient was treated with multiple chemotherapy courses. However, the patient’s condition gradually worsened, and she eventually passed away at home.
LCH should be considered when patients exhibit diabetes insipidus and absence of high signal intensity in the pituitary gland on sagittal T1-weighted image and abnormal enhancement in the pituitary region.
Core Tip: This case report details Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) presenting in the pituitary gland of a 25-year-old female patient. The patient’s primary symptom was diabetes insipidus. The case was initially misdiagnosed as chronic inflammation despite postoperative pathological examination. Throughout the course of the disease multiple radiological examinations were conducted, and it was strongly indicated that LCH was the correct diagnosis. This case highlights the vital importance of imaging studies in the diagnosis of this condition.