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 localized bone or skin disease may not be diagnosed.

Most children have single-system disease.[10] The annual incidence of multisystem 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 multisystem disease, often involving the skin and lungs.[12]

The mean age at diagnosis of pediatric 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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