Recurrent pneumothorax in a child with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis

• Published in: Pneumonologia i alergologia polska Vol. 69; no. 1-2; pp. 93 - 96
• Main Authors: Bubała, H, Sońta-Jakimczyk, D, Gregor, J, Dzielicki, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Poland 2001
• Subjects: Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell - complications; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell - diagnosis; Humans; Infant; Male; Pneumothorax - diagnostic imaging; Pneumothorax - etiology; Recurrence; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0867-7077

We are presenting a 16 months old boy, who has been previously developing normally, physically very active, and who suddenly developed right-sided pneumothorax with infiltrations in both lungs, initially defined as inflammatory. After placing suction drainage of the pleural cavity and antibiotic administration the child's condition improved quickly. The infiltration changes still remained in lungs arousing a suspicion of fibrocystic changes. During an attempt at changing the drainage into a water one, the symptoms of pneumothorax with hypertension increased again. A minithoracotomy with an edge resection of segment 4 and pleurectomy were performed, relating to the histopathological test of the sample, Largenhans' cell histiocytosis was diagnosed. The symptoms of diabetes insipidus appeared. The treatment according to the program DAL-HX83/90 modified by the Polish Group for Leukaemia and Malignant Lymphoma was introduced. During the treatment inducing remission a pneumothorax occurred two more times.