Juvenile Xanthogranuloma

ByJeffrey M. Lipton, MD, PhD, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell;
Carolyn Fein Levy, MD, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Reviewed/Revised Oct 2024
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Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a dendritic cell-related histiocytic syndrome that usually affects only the skin, causing single or multiple lesions, which can resolve spontaneously.

    Systemic involvement can occur, causing visceral organ lesions, involving the liver, lungs, and/or bone marrow.

    Juvenile xanthogranuloma is rarely associated with neurofibromatosis and/or juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

    Topical corticosteroids or sirolimus can be used to treat skin lesions. Systemic lesions are treated with chemotherapy similar to what is used in Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway mutations have been identified, so targeted therapy can also be used.

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