Solitary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Palpebral Conjunctiva Presenting as Leukoplakia: Case and Review of Literature

Abstract

A 69-year-old male presented with a superior palpebral conjunctival white leukoplakic lesion. Excisional biopsy showed Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Positron emission tomography scanning revealed no lesions beyond this site. Native Langerhans cells are known to exist in the conjunctiva, yet only a few cases in the literature have described Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the conjunctiva, mostly in children. Conjunctival Langerhans cell histiocytosis has rarely been reported in an adult as leukoplakia. The authors advocate excisional biopsy for palpebral conjunctival Langerhans cell histiocytosis in older patients if the morbidity of closure is minimal, in addition to surveillance for multifocal disease.