Histiocytosis X (Granulomatous Reticuloendotheliosis)

Abstract

Review of Some Problems of Reticuloendothelial Hyperplasia The reticuloendothelial system of the body responds to numerous stimulating agents by proliferation. This is termed systemic reticuloendotheliosis and occurs specifically in the acute infection of typhoid fever; in the chronic specific granulomas of syphilis, tuberculosis, and leprosy, and in deep mycotic infections of histoplasmosis, coccidiomycosis, etc. When a specific exciting agent is not demonstrable, diagnosis is based on clinicopathological correlations. Such is the case in Hodgkins disease, sarcoidosis, and a group of conditions known individually as Letterer-Siwe disease, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease, and eosinophilic granuloma. It is now generally accepted that Letterer-Siwe disease, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease (noted hereafter, respectively, as L-S disease and H-S-C disease), and eosinophilic granuloma of bone and other organs represent variations in response to as yet undiscovered etiologic factors. The evolution of this concept has been similar to that which has taken place with