Treatment of LCH in Adults

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in adults is a lot like LCH in children and can form in the same organs and systems as it does in children. These include the endocrine and central nervous systems, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract. In adults, LCH is most commonly found in the lung as a single-system disease. In some patients, other organs may be involved, including bone, skin, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland. LCH in the lung occurs more often in young adults who smoke.

As in children, the signs and symptoms of LCH depend on where it is found in the body. See the General Information section for the signs and symptoms of LCH.

Tests that examine the organs and body systems where LCH may occur are used to detect (find) and diagnose LCH. See the General Information section for tests and procedures used to diagnose LCH.

In adults, there is not a lot of information about what treatment works best. Sometimes, information comes only from reports of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of one adult or a small group of adults who were given the same type of treatment.

Adult patients with LCH have higher rates of other cancers than do adults of the same age without LCH. These cancers may be found before, at the same time, or after an LCH diagnosis, and occur more in patients who smoke.

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.