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An eosinophilic granuloma is a benign bone tumor. It’s the mildest form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare disease that causes your body to produce too many immune cells. Eosinophilic granulomas usually affect kids under 10. The growths are always benign. This means they’re not a symptom — or cause — of cancer.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Eosinophilic granulomas grow on or near large bones in children’s bodies (most commonly, their skulls). If the granuloma isn’t causing your child symptoms like pain it might not need any treatment. Some growths are removed with surgery.
Eosinophilic granulomas can affect anyone, but they’re most common in kids between 5 and 10.
Boys or children assigned male at birth (AMAB) are more likely to develop them.
Eosinophilic granulomas are rare. They’re less than 1% of all bone tumors.
Fewer than 5 per 1 million kids are diagnosed with an eosinophilic granuloma each year.
Eosinophilic granulomas can grow on any large bone. The growths themselves are hardened collections of immune cells that form a bump on or near your child’s bones. The most common bones eosinophilic granulomas grow on include:
Depending on how big the granuloma is, it can cause symptoms like pain or pressure under your child’s skin.
Many kids never even notice they have one. Eosinophilic granulomas are frequently discovered and diagnosed when children get X-rays for other issues.
Symptoms of an eosinophilic granuloma include:
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Eosinophilic granulomas are a form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (also called histiocytosis X). Langerhans cell histiocytosis is an autoimmune disease that makes your child’s body produce too many white blood cells that usually fight infections.
Eventually, these extra white blood cells can clump together and form tumors throughout your child’s body.
Your healthcare provider will diagnose an eosinophilic granuloma with a series of tests, including:
Your healthcare provider might need several tests to confirm that your child has an eosinophilic granuloma and not other types of tumors or a form of cancer.
Which treatments your child will need depends on where in their body the eosinophilic granuloma is and if it’s causing them any symptoms.
Treatment for eosinophilic granulomas includes:
Complications from an eosinophilic granuloma include:
Your healthcare provider will advise you on how to manage your child’s symptoms. Managing any symptoms your child has depends on how severe the symptoms are and where in their body the eosinophilic granuloma is located.
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If your child needs treatment beyond observation, it might take some time for them to feel better. Some treatments — like chemotherapy — take up to a year to work. Surgeries will have a unique timeline, too.
How long it takes your child to feel better depends on where the eosinophilic granuloma grew in their body and which treatments they need to remove it.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your child’s specific recovery time.
If your child has an eosinophilic granuloma, you should expect them to need consistent check-ups and tests. Even if your child doesn’t have symptoms, your healthcare provider will need to keep an eye on the growth to make sure it’s not changing, growing or spreading.
If your child isn’t experiencing symptoms, they might never need treatment.
Most eosinophilic granulomas go away in a year or two. Many of them never cause symptoms.
It depends on which types of treatment your child needs. If your healthcare provider is only monitoring the eosinophilic granuloma, your child probably won’t need to change anything about their daily routine.
Talk to your healthcare provider or surgeon for a list of activities your child should avoid while receiving any treatment.
Kids with a single growth have a very positive outlook. Most eosinophilic granulomas never cause noticeable symptoms and disappear in a year or two.
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Talk to your healthcare provider right away if your child has any new symptoms, especially if they’re having headaches, trouble seeing or trouble moving. The sooner your healthcare provider diagnoses any changes in your child’s body, the more likely you can rule out cancers and other diseases before they cause serious issues.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
It can be terrifying to learn your child has a growth inside of their body, but eosinophilic granulomas aren’t cancer. Eosinophilic granulomas might not even cause symptoms, and lots of kids never even notice they have one. Your healthcare provider will walk you through all the steps you’ll need to diagnose and monitor your child’s progress.
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Last reviewed on 01/25/2022.
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