pulmonary disorders
Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
Symptoms and Signs of PLCH
Typical symptoms and signs of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis are dyspnea, nonproductive cough, fatigue, fever, weight loss, and pleuritic chest pain. Sudden, spontaneous Pneumothorax is common. About 15% of patients are asymptomatic, with disease noted incidentally on a chest x-ray taken for another reason. Bone pain due to bone cysts (18%), rash (13%), and polyuria due to ArginineVasopressin Deficiency (Central Diabetes Insipidus) (5%) are the most common manifestations of extrapulmonary involvement and occur in up to 15% of patients, rarely being the presenting symptoms of PLCH. There are few signs of PLCH; the physical examination results are usually normal. 