Vertebral histiocytosis-X causing spinal cord compression

Abstract

An unusual case of spinal cord compression caused by histiocytosis-X of the vertebral body of T-7 was recently operated upon in our department; the case was diagnosed during the operation by means of the squash-smear cytologic technique. Characteristic cytologic features were the presence of sparse eosinophilic leukocytes containing mature, multilobed nucleai and sharp, rather coarse, cytoplasmic granules; abundant histiocytes with round to oval, sometimes indented nuclei and finely granular cytoplasm; and giant, multinucleated cells, as those seen in granulomatous lesions. These cytotypes were grouped to form a monotone, but highly characteristic pattern. We think the reported picture is diagnosic of the pathologic entity under discussion.