Epidemiology

LCH affects children more often than adults. Incidence estimates in Europe range from 2.6 to 8.9 cases per million children per year.[5][6][7][8] The actual annual incidence for all age groups is closer to 11 to 12 per million.[9] Incidence may be underestimated, because many patients with localised bone or skin disease may not be diagnosed.

Most children have single-system disease.[10] The annual incidence of multi-system LCH in the US is 0.7 cases per million children per year. Incidence is lower in black children, and higher in Hispanic children, compared with white children.[11] Most adult patients have multi-system disease, often involving the skin and lungs.[12]

The mean age at diagnosis of paediatric patients is 30 months, and there is a slight male predominance.[6] The mean age at diagnosis of adults is 35 years.[12]

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