Transbronchial cryo-biopsy in pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis:a case report 

Y. He^a (Dr), Y. Xiao*^a (Prof), Y. Chen^a (Dr), Y. Liu^a (Dr), Z. Li^a (Dr), Y. Yang^b (Ms)

^a First department of Respiratory Medicine,Ya'An Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University,Kunming,Yunnan,Chian, Kunming,yunnan, CHINA ; ^b First department of Respiratory Medicine,Ya'An Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University,Kunming,Yunnan,Chian, Kunming,yunan, CHINA

* kmya211@yeah.net

Background:Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare systemic disorder characterized by the accumulation of CD1a+/Langerin+ LCH cells and wide-ranging organ involvement. The untipical LCH is diffcult to confirm. There are relatively little data regarding the utility of transbronchial cryo- biopsy(TBCB) for this disorder.

Content:Authors report a case of a 46-year old man with pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis who presented with chronic cough and chest distress. Imaging of the chest showed characteristic small nodules and thin-walled cysts.This PLCH case hasn’t perpheral lymph node involvement.Diagnose is hard to confirm without transbronchial cryo-biopsy(TBCB). No major complications occurred during TBCB. We carried out a diagnostic work-up which included laboratory and radiographic analysis, bronchoscopy.

Conclusion:TBCB is a safe and effective minimally invasive modality for the diagnosis of PLCH and should be the initial method of obtaining diagnostic specimens.

Disclosure of funding source(s): none