Flow-cytometric DNA content of histiocytosis X (Langerhans cell histiocytosis)

Abstract

Retrospective DNA-content analysis was performed by flow cytometry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 36 patients with histiocytosis X (Langerhans cell histiocytosis). Included were 17 patients with solitary bone lesions, 4 patients with multiple bone lesions, 2 patients with solitary extraosseous lesions, 1 patient with congenital self-healing histiocytosis, and 12 patients with disseminated disease. The diagnosis was in each case verified by review of the clinical history and histopathologic material. None of the cases displayed significant cytologic atypia. DNA content analysis failed to reveal additional G0-G1 peaks or "shoulders" suggestive of aneuploid subpopulations in any case. Full-peak coefficients of variation ranged from 3.8 to 8.0. Our data suggest that despite a prior report of a single aneuploid case of histiocytosis X, DNA content analysis may not be useful in predicting clinical stage and outcome in this disease.