Long term follow up of eosinophilic granuloma of the rib.

UNLABELLED BACKROUNDS: Eosinophilic granuloma is one of the rarest causes of bone tumors, especially in adults. Eosinophilic granuloma is the commonest form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis and represents the unifocal osseous form of the disease which usually affects the skull and long bones. Eosinophilic granuloma, is a benign disease in which diagnosis and differential diagnosis presents more difficulties than treatment. OBSERVATION We present a case of eosinophilic granuloma of the rib with long term follow-up of 14 years which was treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Prognosis of adult eosinophilic granuloma is excellent and the recurrence rate is limited. All available treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, radiation, and even palliative treatment have very good results and in many cases the disease seems to heal spontaneously. However the disease, due to its rarity and unknown pathogenesis still remains an enigma for the clinical doctor.