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histiocytosis
(his″te-o-si-to´sis)
the abnormal appearance of histiocytes in the blood.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis
any of several disorders characterized by proliferation of Langerhans cells (specialized cells found in the skin that are part of the immune system); all are believed to arise from disturbances in regulation of the immune system. Children are more often affected than adults,
and the bone marrow, endocrine system, and lungs may be involved (the lungs more often in adults than in children). In the
unifocal form of the disease, there is just one lesion, usually on a long bone. In the multifocal form, there are numerous erosive lesions in the marrow cavities of bones and sometimes in the mouth, on the skin, or in the
lungs or stomach There is also an acute, disseminated form called Letterer-Siwe disease.
histiocytosis X
former name for Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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