CASE REPORT

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis associated with ovarian cancer

Authors

Takayuki Kishikawa¹, Taichiro Miyashita¹, Emiko Fujiwara², Osamu Shimomura², Ichiro Yasuhi², Daisuke Niino³, Masahiro Ito³, Misato Amenomori¹, Hideaki Osumimoto¹, Mitsuhiko Osumi¹, Katsumi Eguchi⁵ and Kiyoshi Migita⁴

1. Department of General Internal Medicine, NHO National Nagasaki Medical Center, Nagasaki, Japan
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NHO National Nagasaki Medical Center, Nagasaki, Japan
3. Department of Pathology, NHO National Nagasaki Medical Center, Nagasaki, Japan
4. Clinical Research Center, NHO National Nagasaki Medical Center, 2-1001-1 Kubara, Omura, Nagasaki 856-8562, Japan
5. First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan

Received:

07 February 2007

Accepted:

08 May 2007

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Abstract

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MR) is an uncommon disease characterized by joint and cutaneous manifestations. The diagnosis must be confirmed by histological evidence of typical histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells. Many conditions, including malignancy, have been described in association with MR. We herein report a female case of MR in whom partial improvement was obtained by steroid and low-dose methotrexate treatments. However, ovarian cancer was found and therefore a surgical resection and chemotherapy were performed. These treatments resulted in the complete resolution of the skin and joint symptoms. These findings support the close linkage between MR and malignancy and the efficacy of cytotoxic drugs for the treatment of MR.

Key words

Cytotoxic drugs - Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis - Ovarian cancer - Paraneoplastic syndrome