EDISCIENCES

ABSTRACT

Background Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytic neoplastic disease, with a wide range of clinical manifestations from mild, localised disease to multi- systemic, life-threatening disease. Materials and Methods This report presents the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with a 2-year history of worsening diplopia, dysarthria, upper and lower limb incoordination, truncal and gait ataxia. Results Subsequent investigations confirmed the diagnosis of ECD. This patient received targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors and demonstrated a positive response to treatment with functional gains and reduced disease burden on MR brain imaging. His rehabilitation care and follow up required an interdisciplinary team approach, provided by a rehabilitation physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, nutritional therapist, speech therapist, psychologist and social worker. The rehabilitation program consisted of stretching, range of movement exercises, muscle strengthening, balance and flexibility exercises, functional task retraining, equipment provision, fatigue management, nutritional optimisation, targeted communication strategies, psychological support and implementation of services and supports assist his transition towards community reintegration. Conclusion Shared interdisciplinary team and patient goal-setting and timely delivery of cancer rehabilitation interventions were critical in helping maximise this patient’s functional independence, psychosocial outcomes and quality of life.