China Journal of Leprosy and Skin Diseases ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 586-589.doi: 10.12144/zgmfskin202608586

• Case Reports • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: a case report

DENG Xiangfen, WANG Huifen, ZHOU Xiaofang, WANG Juan   

  1. Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital (Southwest Hospital) of Army Medical University; Chongqing Municipal Health Commission Key Laboratory of Immunological Skin Diseases, Chongqing 400038, China
  • Online:2026-08-15 Published:2026-08-03

Abstract: Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare non-infectious granulomatous disease involving multiple systems. Herein we report one case of MRH. The patient was a 44-year-old female presenting with erythema and papules on the hands, face and precordium accompanied by multiple arthralgia for 4 months. Color doppler ultrasonography revealed synovitis of the right elbow joint with mild active inflammation.Histopathological analysis indicated a dense infitration of histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells in the dermis, characterized by abundant cytoplasm and ground glassy changes. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive results for CD68 and CD163, individual positivity for S100. The final diagnosis was MRH. Treatment involved oral prednisone at a dosage of 30 mg once a day, resulting in significant improvement of the rash and joint pain after one month. Subsequently, the patient was maintained on methotrexate at a dose of 5 mg twice a week. The condition is stable followed-up for 6 months.

Key words: multicentric reticulohistiocytosis(MRH), beaded papules, joint pain