Three different ophthalmic presentations of juvenile xanthogranuloma

Hong Kong Med J 2014;20:261–3 | Number 3, June 2014

DOI: 10.12809/hkmj134059

CASE REPORT

Henry HW Lau, FRCS, FHKAM (Ophthalmology)¹; Wilson WK Yip, MB, ChB, FHKAM (Ophthalmology)¹; Allie Lee, MB, BS²; Connie Lai, MB, BS, FHKAM (Ophthalmology)¹; Dorothy SP Fan, FRCS, FHKAM (Ophthalmology)²

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Hong Kong

Corresponding author: Dr Henry HW Lau (henrylau@cuhk.edu.hk)

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Abstract

Three cases of juvenile xanthogranuloma from two ophthalmology departments were reviewed. Clinical histories, ophthalmic examination, physical examination, investigations, and treatment of these cases are described. A 4-month-old boy presented with spontaneous hyphema and secondary glaucoma. He was treated with intensive topical steroid and anti-glaucomatous eye drops. The hyphema gradually resolved and the intra-ocular pressure reverted to 11 mm Hg without any other medication. Biopsy of his scalp mass confirmed the diagnosis of juvenile xanthogranuloma. A 31-month-old boy presented with a limbal mass. Excisional biopsy of the mass was performed and confirmed it was a juvenile xanthogranuloma. A 20-month-old boy was regularly followed up for epiblepharon and astigmatism. He presented to a paediatrician with a skin nodule over his back. Skin biopsy confirmed juvenile xanthogranuloma. He had no other ocular signs. Presentation of juvenile xanthogranuloma can be very different, about which ophthalmologists should be aware of. Biopsy of the suspected lesion is essential to confirm the diagnosis.

[Abstract in Chinese]

Introduction

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a benign histiocytic skin disorder encountered primarily in infancy and childhood. Approximately 10% of these patients exhibit ocular manifestations, whose presentations vary. Although patients can be asymptomatic, occasionally they have associated glaucoma and even blindness.1 2

Case reports

Case notes from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2009 in two ophthalmology departments were reviewed. Three cases with a diagnosis of JXG were identified. The clinical histories, ophthalmic examination findings, physical examination, investigation results, and treatment of these patients are described.

Case 1

A 4-month-old boy with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency was referred by a paediatrician because of right eye redness for 2 weeks. His antenatal and birth history was otherwise unremarkable. He had no recent history of eye injury. On examination, his right eye was diffusely injected, with a hazy right cornea and irregular pupil. There was a 1-mm organised blood clot in the anterior chamber of his right eye. No rubeosis was noted. Left eye examination was unremarkable, with a clear cornea and no hyphema. Fundal examination of the left eye was normal. The intra-ocular pressure (IOP) of right eye was 48 mm Hg and in the left eye it was 14 mm Hg. In both eyes the corneal diameters (10.5 x 10 mm) were normal for his age.

Blood tests—including complete blood picture, clotting profile, renal and liver function tests—were performed to rule out metabolic or haematological abnormalities, but yielded nil abnormal. Ultrasonography of his right eye showed a clear vitreous and the retina was flat without any intra-ocular mass. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbits was also performed, but revealed no intra-ocular mass. X-rays assessing his bones showed no features of non-accidental injury. The patient’s medical and family history was non–contributory.

He was treated intensively with 1% topical prednisolone acetate (Pred Forte ophthalmic suspension USP, Allegan) 1 drop every hourly and anti-glaucomatous eye drops including 2% topical dorzolamide hydrochloride–timolol maleate ophthalmic solution (Cosopt; MSD) 1 drop twice daily and topical 0.03% bimatoprost ophthalmic solution (LUMIGAN; Allergan) 1 drop at night. The hyphema gradually resolved and IOP normalised (right eye, 14 mm Hg) without medication. No iris mass was noted after hyphema subsided. There was a skin nodule over the scalp but no other skin lesion was identified (Fig a). Biopsy of the scalp lesion yielded skin tissue with cellular intradermal expansion by histiocytes, which were uniform with small vesicular nuclei and foamy cytoplasm. The features were compatible with JXG.

The hyphema did not recur over the 2-year follow-up. His IOP remained normal (right eye 11 mm Hg and left eye 15 mm Hg) without any medication. The latest visual acuity of both eyes was 20/30.

Figure. (a) Skin lesion (arrow) over the scalp of patient 1. (b) Ultrasound biomicroscopy of the limbal mass of patient 2 demonstrates localised increase in thickness of the sclera with invasion into the cornea (arrows). (c) Skin lesion of patient 3 showing Touton giant cells (arrows), a feature of juvenile xanthogranuloma (H&E, original magnification, x 400)

Case 2

The second case was a 31-month-old boy who was born full-term with a normal birth weight (2.7 kg) and had normal development all along. He presented to us with an enlarging nasal limbal mass over the right eye. The mass had been noticed by his mother for 9 months. The patient was treated elsewhere with topical steroids and antibiotics but the lesion was unresponsive. Incisional biopsy of the lesion was performed and histopathology was reported to show ‘inflammation’. Further increase in size of the lesion was noted after the biopsy. No other skin lesion was evident elsewhere. Ultrasound biomicroscopy of the right eye demonstrated a localised increase in thickness of the sclera at the site of the lesion with invasion into the cornea and the borders were ill-defined (Fig b).

Using Kay Single Pictures, the unaided visual acuity of the right eye was 20/60 and of the left eye was 20/40. Examination under general anaesthesia was performed. There was a right-sided 6-mm limbal yellowish-grey mass over the nasal region with an adjacent lipid keratopathy of 1 mm. The other eye anterior segment examination was unremarkable. The IOP (right eye 15 mm Hg and left eye 14 mm Hg), corneal diameter (12.5 mm x 12 mm), and fundal examination of both eyes were all normal.

The lesion was excised and a partial sclerectomy was performed. Bared sclera was covered by conjunctiva. Intra-operatively, the mass did not show any deep scleral involvement. After removal of the lesion, the bare area of the sclera was covered with a conjunctival graft. Histopathology sections showed a JXG comprising aggregates of histiocytes and Touton giant cells, situated in a fibrous stroma covered by non-keratinising squamous epithelium.

Postoperatively he was started on topical 1% prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension USP (PRED FORTE; Allergan) 1 drop 6 times daily and topical 0.5% levofloxacin (Cravit; Santen) 1 drop 4 times daily. Recovery was uneventful. Upon last follow-up 14 months after surgery, the best-corrected visual acuity of both eyes was 20/20 with no evidence of recurrence.

Case 3

The third case was a 20-month-old boy who was regularly followed up because of epiblepharon. His unaided visual acuity of both eyes was 20/50. He also had astigmatism. Refraction of the right eye was -1.00 D/-1.00 D x 39 and for the left eye it was -1.00 D/ -2.00 D x 157. He presented to a paediatrician with a skin nodule over his back. Biopsy of the skin lesion yielded sections with bland epidermis. There was a well-demarcated nodule in the upper and lower dermis that was composed of histiocytes and foam cells, and a few Touton giant cells were seen (Fig c). These features were compatible with the diagnosis of JXG. He had no other ocular signs and symptoms including features of a hyphema or an ocular mass. Upon last follow-up 15 months after surgery, unaided visual acuity of both eyes was 20/50 with no evidence of recurrence.

All three cases yielded a good visual prognosis and there was no recurrence of the disease.

Discussion

Ocular involvement is the most common extracutaneous manifestation of JXG. Risk factors for the development of eye diseases include the number of skin lesions, and being under 2 years old.3 This condition can affect the orbit, iris, ciliary body, cornea, and episclera, with the iris being the most commonly affected.4 Patients can present with iris nodules which can be quite vascular and may bleed spontaneously causing hyphema and secondary glaucoma.5

Zimmerman1 first reported JXG. In his series of 53 infants and young children with JXG, he identified five presenting clinical features of intra-ocular involvement.1 This included an asymptomatic localised or diffuse iris tumour, unilateral glaucoma, spontaneous hyphema, red eye with signs of uveitis, and congenital or acquired iris heterochromia. However, JXG can sometimes be difficult to be diagnosed and can mimic melanomas in the eye.6

Ocular JXG can be diagnosed by a skin biopsy if typical skin lesions are present. However, absence of skin lesion cannot rule out JXG, because skin lesions often regress spontaneously. Fifty percent of patients never develop skin lesions and may first present to the ophthalmologist.7 Treatment depends on the presenting signs and symptoms. Topical steroids can be used for hyphema, and anti-glaucomatous eye drops can be used if there is secondary glaucoma. In the presence of an ocular mass or skin mass, biopsy of the suspected lesion is essential to confirming the diagnosis. Sometimes JXG does not warrant treatment. However, if extracutaneous involvement exists, surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy may become necessary.8

In this case series, the presentation of JXG was very different in the three patients. Treatment modalities should be individualised and tailored for different clinical presentations. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the various ophthalmic presentations in JXG. For skin lesions and systemic signs and symptoms, we should collaborate with paediatricians and dermatologists to provide holistic patient care.

Declaration

No conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.

References

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