Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a complicated disease entity that can result in either benign or devastating outcomes. Among the clinical spectrum of LCH, eosinophilic granuloma (EG) is the most benign and predominant condition, featured by a clonal proliferation of Langerhans-type cells with bone involvement. In children and young adolescents with this tumor, about 80% of patients are reported to be younger than 20 years [1].

Although thoracic segments is the most preferential spine localization in EG patients of all ages with vertebral involvement [1, 2], data of previous studies and our research has suggested that incidence in the cervical spine is the highest in pediatric patients with spinal EG [3, 4].

The typical vertebral lesion of EG is composed of an osteolytic area causing complete or incomplete collapse and flattening of vertebrae, known as vertebra plana. The bony destruction of vertebral EG might lead to spinal instability with severe mechanical back pain and even a pathological fracture. Pediatric patients with cervical EG can present with symptoms including acute onset of neck pain with/without history of trauma and torticollis or neck stiffness due to restricted motion [5, 6]. Vertebral collapse and impingement from extradural extension of the lesion may further result in nerve compression and subsequent neural deficit and myelopathy.

Various therapeutic approaches have been proposed for the treatment of pediatric patients with EG of the cervical spine. For most cases without neural deficits or spinal instability, it is often sufficient to palliate symptoms and induce the lesion regression by conservative treatment and biopsy with cervical collar immobilization in view of the possibility of spontaneous resolution. Surgical intervention should be considered to relieve pain, maintain spinal stability, and preserve neural function in the presence of neurologic compromise, spinal instability, and severe deformity [1]. It has been documented that several surgical strategies are feasible for the achievement of the abovementioned therapeutic goals in the treatment of pediatric cervical EG without growth arrest and ensuing deformity [5, 7]. However, as no randomized clinical trials have been performed on the pediatric cervical EG due to the scarcity of cases and ethical issues, there is no consensus about the optimal surgical procedure regarding surgical approaches and internal fixation methods.

To discuss the most suitable surgical management of pediatric patients with cervical EG, a retrospective study was undertaken reviewing 19 cases of cervical EG complicated with neurologic deficit and/or spinal instability. Herein, we reviewed the clinical features of pediatric cervical EG and presented our experience with the surgical intervention of the disease (Figs. 1 and 2).

The initial clinical presentation was retrieved from the medical records. The most common initial symptoms were, in descending order, restricted cervical motion (100%), neck pain (94.7%), neurological symptoms (84.2%), and torticollis (26.3%). The average SINS score was 11.8 ± 2.5. Oucher scale for pain was obtained, with the mean score being 8.1 ± 1.5. The neurological status of all the patients was accessed and classified according to Frankel scale. The result reveals 3 patients with Frankel grade C, 14 with grade D, and 2 with grade E (Table 1).

LCH can occur in any age groups but is more common in the pediatric population, with the estimated incidence ranging from 2 to 10 per million children [9, 10]. Although EG of the cervical spine is a rare condition, there is a predominant involvement of cervical spine in pediatric patients with spinal EG [3, 4]. The typical pattern of vertebral destruction can facilitate the establishment of the diagnosis of cervical EG. Nevertheless, a tissue biopsy for histopathologic examination is required to diagnose EG formally. For patients with unifocal osseous lesions, the overall benefits of needle or open biopsy remains controversial [1]. In our practice, for pediatric cervical EG patients suffered from neurological deficits and/or had SINS ≥7, we suggested surgery as an emergent treatment choice to prevent these children from any possible impending disastrous damages. And a frozen biopsy was performed in these surgeries to further clarify the diagnosis on the basis of preoperative clinical data, so as to reconfirm the previously designed surgical modality, or to make a modification accordingly. In addition to the frozen biopsy, a postoperative routine histopathologic examination was also performed to provide a definite diagnosis.

Given the general benign prognosis of spinal EG [11], various therapeutic modalities were employed in pediatric patients without neurological deficits or spinal instability, including chemotherapies, low-dose radiotherapies, and minimally invasive treatments [12–16]. Although lack of consensus, it is generally considered that spine instability, kyphoscoliosis, and neurologic deficiencies and neurologic deficit are major surgical indications for spinal EG [1]. To avoid further disastrous damages resulted from spinal cord compression and cervical instability, we regarded neurologic deficiencies and SINS ≥7 as indications for treating pediatric cervical EG surgically.

Surgical modalities for cervical EG may vary with the extent and location of the disease. For EG of the atlas and axis in adult patients, we have previously reported that anterior tumor resection and posterior reconstruction by posterior occipitocervical fixation or upper cervical fixation can offer eradication of the lesion, decompression of nerve, and immediate atlantoaxial stability [17]. However, in view of preserving the potential growth of spine and improving quality of life, this procedure was performed for pediatric patients with upper cervical EG in our series. C1 and C2 pedicle screw instrumentation technique has been proved to be safe with low complications when it is applied on selected pediatric patients [18]. The data of our study reinforces the statement that this method of fixation can be a safe and effective alternative for pediatric upper cervical EG, minimizing the influence on spine growth and motion.

In comparison, more reports focused on the surgical procedures for lower cervical EG, which included curettage and fusion with or without instrumentation. Denaro et al. [5] described specially modeled autoplastic grafts harvested from the iliac wing, which were inserted after complete excision of the anterior portion of the EG involved vertebral body to maintain normal motion of the adjacent segments and growth of the vertebrae in the long term. Arthrodesis was achieved in patients after immobilization by Minerva cast for 90 days. To handle lesions with greater extent of vertebral destruction, anterior corpectomy would be performed followed by mesh cage and plate instrumentation to obtain fusion in both pediatric and adult patients [7, 19]. The nuance between this surgery performed in different age group is that the longest possible mesh cage is recommended in children considering spine growth and restoration of the cervical lordosis curve. The principle of our surgical consideration for pediatric cervical EG is minimizing the insults of surgery on the growing spine. For lesions located on the anterior column of the segment of the lower cervical spine, anterior resection of tumor was performed. To reconstruct the stability of spine, autologous bone graft or mesh cage was inserted on the basis of the extension of resection, and anterior mini-plate and screw were used. Correspondence to prior reports, there is no adverse effect on spine curvature detected during the follow-up and the remission of symptoms was quick [7, 20]. If only the posterior element was destroyed by the tumor, we recommend posterior excision and pedicle screw instrumentation, which is featured by short operation time and small amount of bleeding. It is suggested by Lu et al. that pedicle screw-based instrumentation and the independent posterior approach is a preferable procedure for children with thoracic and lumbar EG for its minimal trauma and favorable results [21]. Our data supported the conclusion of Lu’s study and further proves that posterior approach of tumor removal and instrumentation is also an ideal choice for the individual surgical treatment of selected pediatric cervical EG cases.

There has been no definitive evidence-based conclusion yet to guide the adjuvant therapy after surgical intervention of spinal EG. Opinions vary from only observation to low-dose standard chemotherapy. On the basis of the experience drawn from our clinic and previous report [13], desirable effects and high rate of adherence can be acquired by orally taking prednisolone alone. Furthermore, one patient in the current study who was not compliant with oral prednisolone had recurrent EG on the thoracic vertebrae, suggesting the necessity of systemic intervention of spinal EG instead of only local excision of the tumor. The duration of postoperative immobilization is also under investigation. Patients were asked to wear cervical collars for 6 months to ensure spinal fusion. However, no spinal deformity or instrumentation failure was observed even in some children who had worn orthosis for only 1 or 2 months.

There is an obvious demand for a full assessment of each pediatric cervical EG patient with a rational surgical procedure tailored to the extension and location of the lesion. Limitations of the current study are common to retrospective research in which the data are only as precise as available medical records. Besides, our study has limited power as a result of small numbers and uncontrolled variables. Despite the limitations, our results strongly suggest the application of aforementioned procedures on the specific site of cervical spine and contribute to the individualized surgical treatment of pediatric cervical EG patients complicated with neurologic deficit and/or spinal instability, which is characterized by minimal surgical trauma and effects on spine growth without recurrence. The neural status and symptoms of these patients were significantly improved by the surgical intervention and EG-related cervical deformity was corrected by instrumentation. After all, surgeries for pediatric cervical spine is demanding and require thorough pre-operative planning and special technical expertise to supply an ensurance for the safety and effectiveness both in the operation and in the long term.