   |
|
CASE REPORT |
|
| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 57
| Issue : 4 | Page : 302-303 |
|
| Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: A rare case report |
|
|
Soumya Mukherjee1, Dwijendra N Gangopadhyay2
1 Department of Pathology, Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, India
2 Department of Dermatology, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| Date of Web Publication | 29-Jun-2012 |
Correspondence Address:
Soumya Mukherjee
Department of Pathology, Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0019-5154.97678
|
|
 Abstract | | |
A 58-year-old lady presented with polyarthritis followed by multiple shiny erythematous dome-shaped papulonodules mainly over the face, around joints and coral bead sign on fingers without any mucosal involvement. Characteristic histopathology with well-defined dermal infiltrate consisting of multinucleated giant cells and large macrophages having abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm clinched the diagnosis of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis.
Keywords: Mutilating arthropathy, multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, histiocytosis
How to cite this article:
Mukherjee S, Gangopadhyay DN. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: A rare case report. Indian J Dermatol 2012;57:302-3 |
What was known?
It is a rare entity with cutaneous and bony joint involvement, often associated with internal malignancy.
| Introduction | |  |
Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare histiocytic proliferative disease in which joints, skin, mucous membranes and internal organs are affected. [1] The most prominent clinical features are distinctive cutaneous nodules and destructive arthritis. [2] Twenty five percent of the patients have an associated internal malignancy at various sites. MRH has few other names in the literature as lipoid dermatoarthritis, giant cell histiocytoma, reticulohistiocytic granuloma. This is a rare condition, fewer than 200 cases have been reported in the world literature [3] and to the best of our knowledge this is the third case reported from India.
| Case Report | | |
A 58-year-old female presented with destructive polyarthritis of small joints of the hands, wrists, elbows and knee joints for past one and half years. She also developed multiple papulonodules on the forearm, elbow [Figure 1], face [Figure 2], ears helices and knee for last 6 months. The papulonodules were mildly erythematous, dome-shaped, glistening, translucent and non-pruritic and non-tender. The sizes varied from small papules to large pea-sized. There was a tendency to grouping of the lesions. Many small papules along the nail folds were seen forming the "coral bead sign" [Figure 3]. The surrounding skin was normal. The oral mucosa was free. | Figure 1: Shows typical erythematous glistening papulonodules around left elbow joint
Click here to view |
An extensive laboratory evaluation including complete hemogram, ESR, lipid profile, chest X-ray, USG abdomen, urinanalysis, stool for occult blood, ANA and X-ray of hand were done. Investigations revealed mild normocytic normochromic anemia (Hb-9.2 g/dl), raised ESR (55mm in 1 st hr) and increased triglyceride level (175 mg/dl). USG abdomen showed mild splenomegaly and X-ray of the chest was normal but X-ray of the hand showed erosion in the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.
Skin punch biopsy was done from a nodule at the elbow region. The histopathological examination revealed well defined dermal infiltrate consisting of multinucleated giant cells and macrophages having abundant eosinophilic finely granular cytoplasm with ground glass appearance [Figure 4]. These features are consistent with MRH. | Figure 4: Histopathology showing multinucleated giant cells and macrophages having abundant eosinophilic finely granular cytoplasm in the dermis (H and E, ×200)
Click here to view |
| Discussion | | |
MRH is a class II or non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis, characterized by local proliferation of resident mononuclear phagocytes other than Langerhans cell. [4]
The onset of MRH is usually insidious and cutaneous manifestations usually follow the articular signs and symptoms. [4]
The typical cutaneous manifestations consist of nonpruritic, flesh colored to reddish brown yellow papules and nodules that may be found anywhere in the body with a predilection for face, hand and around joints. [5] Around nail folds small papules are found which are called coral beads represent typical clinical sign. Differential diagnosis of the cutaneous lesions includes lepromatous leprosy, sarcoidosis, xanthomatosis, histiocytosis X, juvenile and adult xanthogranuloma, generalized eruptive histiocytoma, familial histiocytic dermatoarthritis and neurofibromatosis. The presence of skin manifestations on the face and hands with erosive arthritis usually differentiates MRH from other diseases.
MRH is associated with multiple medical conditions; underlying malignancy is found in about 25% of the cases. [3] Breast and stomach are the most common sites for underlying malignancy but may occur anywhere. Other conditions include hyperlipidemia, tuberculosis, pregnancy and autoimmune diseases. In our case no underlying malignancy or other disorders could be detected.
In conclusion MRH is a very rare disease; only 200 cases are reported worldwide so far. To the best of our knowledge it is the third case reported from India.
| References | | |
| 1. | Rao AG, Lakshmi TS, Vani V. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2003;69:35-6. 
[PUBMED]  |
| 2. | Holubar K. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. In: Freedberg IM, Eisen AZ, Wollf K, et al, editors. Fitzpatrick' Dermatology in General Medicine, 6 th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2003. p. 1599-602.
|
| 3. | Callen JP. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Available from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/283885-overview. [accessed on 2010 Apr 13].
|
| 4. | Trotta F, Castellino G, Monaco AL. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2004;5:759-72.
|
| 5. | Tajirian AL, Malik MK, Robinson-Bostom L, Lally EV. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Clin Dermatol 2006;24:486-92.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
What is new?
The present case is not associated with any underlying malignancies like the
other two previous cases reported from India
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4] |
|
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis - A Rare Clinicopathological Entity |
|
| Bhuvitha M. S., Nandakumar G. | | Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2021; 10(33): 2854 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | | | 2 |
Reddish-brown nodules and papules in an elderly man |
|
| Chapman, L.W., Hsiao, J.L., Sarantopoulos, P., Chiu, M.W. | | JAMA Dermatology. 2013; | | [Pubmed] | | | 3 |
Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis: a Rare Yet Challenging Disease |
|
| Arshia D. Islam,Stanley M. Naguwa,Gurtej S. Cheema,John C. Hunter,M. Eric Gershwin | | Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. 2013; 45(2): 281 | | [Pubmed] | [DOI] | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Article Access Statistics | | | Viewed | 6222 | | | Printed | 140 | | | Emailed | 0 | | | PDF Downloaded | 91 | | | Comments | [Add] | | | Cited by others | 3 | | |
|
|
