HISTIOCYTIC NEOPLASMS: MARKERS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

摘要

Diseases of histiocytes include both inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Advances in the understanding of the basic immunology of histiocytic cells drive the continuous revision of theories about the underlying pathogenesis of histiocytic diseases. This has led to some confusing terminology. Specifically, the term malignant histiocytosis is no longer favored; the preferred term is disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. Also, malignant fibrous histiocytosis is inaccurate because, using immunochemical techniques, these lesions can be reclassified as specific subtypes of sarcoma. Likewise, it is now known that lesions diagnosed as fibrohistiocytic nodules actually include many different disease processes. The currently recognized histiocytic diseases are histiocytic inflammation, reactive histiocytoses, canine cutaneous histiocytoma, and histiocytic sarcomas.