Figures
Figure 1
A ) Skin eruptions on the left forehead during three different treatment periods: the initial visit, and before (IFN-α [â]) and after (IFN-α [+]) PEG-IFN-α2b administration. Painless, reddish and ulcerated nodules of 15-mm and 4-mm diameter are apparent at the initial visit. Despite the administration of vinblastine-based chemotherapy with oral prednisolone, the lesions were persistent (IFN-α [â]) and became flat and scar-like after PEG-IFN-α2b administration (IFN-α [â]). B ) Histology of skin biopsy at the initial visit. Accumulated cells are large, epithelioid, and pleomorphic with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Marked nuclear atypia and atypical mitotic figures are evident. The cells are positive for Langerin and pERK. A marked proliferation capacity was validated by enhanced Ki67 staining, and MIB1 staining index was 73.4%. Bars represent 50 μm. C ) Immunohistochemistry of skin biopsy tissue from nodules at the initial visit (IFN-α [â]) and two weeks after the administration of PEG-IFN-α2b (IFN-α [+]). Massive accumulation of CD1a-positive cells is observed in the epidermis and dermis (IFN-α [â]). In comparison to a marked reduction in dermal CD1a-positive cells along with the infiltration of CD8-positive cells in the dermis, the epidermis retains CD1a-positive cells. INF-α treatment also induced a marked reduction in Ki67-positive cells and increase in CD86-positive cells with round shape. Bars represent 50 μm.
Figure 1
Authors
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease in which cells with features of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) accumulate in the skin and/or other organs [1, 2]. Although such skin lesions can affect patients’ quality of life [3], there is a paucity of evidence for effective treatments [1]. Here, we report a patient with Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS), a highly malignant form of LCH [4], in whom pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α2b was effective for the management of skin lesions.A 58-year-old Japanese [...]