Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Erdheim-Chester disease, both with cutaneous presentations, and papillary thyroid carcinoma all harboring the BRAF(V600E) mutation

J Cutan Pathol. 2016 Mar;43(3):270-5. doi: 10.1111/cup.12636. Epub 2015 Nov 20.

Abstract

Langerhans cell histocytosis (LCH) and Erdheim-Chester disease are two rare histiocytic disorders. Their occurrence in the same patient is more infrequent, but has been described. We report a case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with a diagnosis of single system cutaneous LCH. Subsequently, she developed multiple papules on her extremities consistent with a non-LCH xanthogranuloma type lesion. BRAF(V600E) mutation immunostain, VE1 was positive in the skin lesion, which was confirmed by molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies, initiating a complete systemic workup for Erdheim-Chester disease. Systemic involvement was confirmed with bilateral sclerotic bone lesions and retroperitoneal and pelvic fibrosing disease. She was also found to have a BRAF(V600E) mutation positive papillary thyroid carcinoma. New suspicious cutaneous lesions presenting in patients with a history of LCH need to be biopsied. A BRAF(V600E) mutation in a non-LCH histiocytic lesion with a xanthogranuloma phenotype (CD163/CD68/CD14/fascin/Factor 13a) should prompt an Erdheim-Chester disease workup. This is a unique case of a woman with BRAF(V600E) mutation positive Erdheim-Chester disease and cutaneous LCH, while also being, to our knowledge, the first reported case in the English literature of it occurring in a patient with a BRAF(V600E) mutation positive papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Keywords: Langerhans cells; cutaneous metastasis; oncology.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Carcinoma* / genetics
  • Carcinoma* / metabolism
  • Carcinoma* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / genetics
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / metabolism
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / pathology
  • Female
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* / genetics
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* / metabolism
  • Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf* / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf