A cytologic diagnosis of BRAFV600E Erdheim-Chester disease on pericardial fluid

Abstract

We report the case of a 74-year-old woman admitted to the emergency unit for resting dyspnea. Clinical presentation, cardiac MRI and echocardiography were consistent with cardiac tamponade requiring emergency pericardiocentesis. Cytologic examination of the pericardial fluid revealed the presence of CD68pos CD1aneg S100neg foamy histiocytes (Fig. 1). Additional investigations complied with the diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester histiocytosis. Treatment with αIFN was initiated but the patient developed severe neutropenia that contraindicated further administration. The detection of BRAFV600E mutation on histiocytes isolated from the pericardial liquid and CNS involvement (cerebral masses) prompted the administration of vemurafenib, a selective BRAFV600E kinase inhibitor. Four months after the initiation of low-dose vemurafenib, pericarditis almost resolved and cerebral masses decreased by 50% (Fig. 2). To our knowledge, analysis of pericardial fluid allowing the diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease and the detection of the BRAFV600E mutation has in fact been rarely described in the literature. This case report and the successful evolution under vemurafenib also support the use of BRAFV600E inhibitors in αIFN-intolerant patients with BRAFV600E mutation, particularly in case of heart and central nervous system involvement.