Erdheim-Chester Disease: A Rare Disease Causing Diagnostic Challenge in A 35 Year Old Male From Ethiopia
Author(s):
Sebrina Ahmed1,2, Abate Bane1,2*, FoziaAbdela1,2, Dawit Mamo1, Tesfaye Kebede4
, Yonas Girma3, Abdu Mohammed1, Ahmed Adem1,2 and
TesfamariamAklilu1,2
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell tumor with histopathology features of foamy histocytes and fibrosis. The disease has varying manifestations from asymptomatic to life-threatening organ involvement including long bones, CNS, lung, heart, and kidneys. On histopathology staining, the cells exhibit CD68 positivity but CD1a and S100 negativity. The prognosis of the patients is poor. ECD poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to its resemblance to various disorders requiring a multidisciplinary approach. We report a case of a 35-year-old male patient from Ethiopia with literature review, who initially presented with massive chylous ascites and retroperitoneal manifestation but later developed pulmonary and cardiac manifestations. The diagnosis was suggested from an abdominal CT scan with subsequent image-guided biopsy which compartments a diagnosis.
