Langerhans cell histiocytosis - eosinophilic granuloma in the maxillo-facial region

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) includes three entities with unknown etiology, which have common histological features where the affected tissues are infiltrated with Langerhans cells. LCH (previously known as Histiocytosis X) comprises rare diseases: Eosinophilic granuloma, Hand-Schueller-Christian syndrome, Letterer-Siwe syndrome, Hashimoto-Pritzke syndrome ect. where the accumulation of pathological Langerhans cells lead to destruction of tissues. Therefore the clinical manifestation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis varies from monoosal or polyosal disorders with unifocal or multifocal bone alteration to dessiminative forms affecting many organs and systems. Eosinophilic granuloma - the localized form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis may flow with single or multiple changes in the skeleton, without involving the internal organs. Eosinophilic granuloma in maxillo-facial region can affect each of the bones, but most often found in the mandible (approx. 70%). First clinical symptoms of EG in maxillo-facial region usually take place in the oral cavity and the bone changes are twice as frequent as oral soft tissue's changes. Sometimes oral manifestation - single or multiple bone and oral soft tissue nonspecific lesions could be the first or the only sign of this disease. That's way early symptoms of Eosinophilic granuloma in maxillo-facial region manifested in jaw area can be first recognized by dental professionals. (authors)