Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis

Our plain-English summary of Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, by M.O. Coupe, S.J. Whittaker, N. Thatcher (The British Journal of Dermatology, 1987).

The study

• Authors: M.O. Coupe, S.J. Whittaker, N. Thatcher
• Journal: The British Journal of Dermatology
• Published: 1987;116(2):245-7
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 14 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

A case of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis associated with a pleural mesothelioma is reported. The cutaneous and joint manifestations resolved after treatment with cyclophosphamide, and the remission persisted until the patient's death 3 years later. As corticosteroids have such an unpredictable effect on this condition, cyclophosphamide may be regarded as the treatment of choice until more cases can be assessed.

In plain English

This article was a case report of one patient with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, a rare skin and joint condition, together with a pleural mesothelioma. A 72-year-old retired man presented in March 1982 with skin nodules, a rash, and pain and stiffness in both hands. Because the condition is known to be associated with internal cancer, he was investigated. A needle biopsy of an abnormal area on his chest X-ray showed features of pleural mesothelioma. He reported minimal asbestos exposure during the Second World War. The article names no fiber type. On indomethacin and then prednisolone, his skin and joint symptoms kept coming and going. He then received six cyclophosphamide infusions at 3-week intervals. After 2 months the rash and nodules cleared, and later his joint symptoms disappeared. He died in summer 1985 from progressive tumour, and the skin and joint condition had not returned. The authors noted that none of the cases in the literature had previously been linked to mesothelioma. They concluded that alkylating agents should be the drug of choice, but stated that more cases must be studied.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report (single patient)
• Who was studied: One 72-year-old retired man who presented in March 1982 with a 3-month history of skin nodules, rash, and pain and stiffness in both hands
• Exposure: Minimal asbestos exposure during the Second World War, by the patient's own history; no fiber type, product or job is given
• Main results:
  • The patient was investigated for an underlying cancer, and a needle biopsy of an abnormal chest radiograph site showed features of pleural mesothelioma
  • On indomethacin and then prednisolone 10 mg daily, the joint and skin features continued to remit and relapse
  • After six cyclophosphamide infusions at 3-week intervals, the rash and nodules resolved after 2 months of therapy, and later all joint symptoms disappeared
  • The patient died in summer 1985 from progressive tumour; the multicentric reticulohistiocytosis did not recur during the 3-year follow-up
  • The authors noted that of 75 cases in the world literature, 18 (24%) were associated with malignancy, and none had previously been associated with a mesothelioma
• The authors' conclusion: The authors believed the cyclophosphamide treatment favourably altered the course of the disease, and that alkylating agents should be regarded as the drug of choice for this condition
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors stated that more cases of this rare disease must be studied before definitive treatment guidelines can be produced

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Pleural Mesothelioma.

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