Multiple juvenile xanthogranulomas successfully treated with CO laser

Abstract

Juvenile xanthogranulomas are a rare disease entity within the spectrum of cutaneous non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses characterized by single or multiple cutaneous xanthogranulomas without further organ involvement. A 16-year-old girl developed multiple xanthogranulomas in various skin regions, especially the trunk and the flexural areas, over a period of 6 months. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by H&E histology, showing a histiocytic infiltrate admixed with foam cells and Touton giant cells, and by immunohistochemistry using anti-bodies to stabilin-1 whose expression is highly specific for cutaneous non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses. No diabetes insipidus, pituitary hyperplasia or paraproteinemia were observed. Skin lesions were treated with a CO(2) laser and did not reappear during a 5 years follow-up period.