Juvenile xanthogranuloma as a sequel to Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a report of three cases

We report three children who had multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with cutaneous involvement and subsequently developed juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG). JXG appeared 3--6 years after the initial manifestation of LCH. JXG lesions, which presented as yellowish papules, revealed typical Touton giant cells and were factor XIIIa positive but S100 and CD1a negative. Non-LCH histiocyte disorders, such as JXG, are known to occur as a reaction to a variety of external stimuli such as infection and trauma. It is therefore conceivable that the inflammatory reaction associated with LCH may have precipitated the development of JXG in our patients. Alternatively, one could speculate that this association might be due to a common histogenetic precursor of the cell types involved.