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Dabrafenib and steroids for the treatment of Erdheim-Chester disease with extensive CNS involvement: a case report

    Carlen A Yuen

    *Author for correspondence:s.

    E-mail Address: carleny@hs.uci.edu

    Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868-3201, USA

    ,
    Silin Bao

    Department of Internal Medicine. Community Regional Medical Center, Fresno, CA 93721, USA

    ,
    Mya Sandi Aung

    California Health Sciences University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clovis, CA 93611, USA

    ,
    Rhea Shishodia

    California Health Sciences University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clovis, CA 93611, USA

    &
    Xiao-Tang Kong

    Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868-3201, USA

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/pme-2023-0137

    Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is an exceedingly rare non–Langerhans cell CD68+ CD1a- S100- histiocytic multi-organ disease. Diagnosis of ECD is often delayed due to non-specific radiographic findings and heterogeneous lesional tissue. Increasingly, the role of genomic alterations is being recognized for both diagnosis and treatment of ECD. More than half of ECD patients harbor the BRAFV600E mutation. Evaluation for this mutation be can falsely negative on immunohistochemical staining and confirmation with molecular analyses is recommended. We present a case of the 44 year-old male with BRAFV600E-positive ECD treated successfully with steroids followed by single-agent dabrafenib.

    Plain language summary

    Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is an exceedingly rare type of histiocytosis (a disorder of white blood cells). The diagnosis of ECD can be challenging because tissue biopsy may not provide a definitive diagnosis. Currently, genetic mutations can be used to support both diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of the 44 year-old male with BRAF V600E -positive ECD who was treated successfully with steroids followed by dabrafenib.

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