Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a rare but important differential diagnosis for lymphadenopathy

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in an Iranian Woman; a Rare but Important Cause of Lymphadenopathy

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease (KFD), is a rare and self-limited condition of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, which typically presents as fever and lymphadenopathy. We describe a case of KFD in an Iranian woman. Due to low incidence and high importance, awareness of this disease is necessary for clinicians for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A 26-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 3-week history of fever and lymphadenopathy. On physical examination, she had three separate enlarged lymph nodes on the right side of her neck. In laboratory tests that were carried out, she had mild anemia and an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, while other tests were normal. Ultasound (U/S) guided core needle lymph node biopsy was performed and based on the histological finding, diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease was made. The patient was managed supportively and with prednisolone. She symptomatically improved and was discharged with no follow up. Although the incidence of KFD is rare, it must be considered as a differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy especially in tuberculosis-endemic areas like our country-Iran. Moreover, it is necessary that physicians are aware of this disease in order to minimize unnecessary evaluation and toxic treatment.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a rare cause of cervical lymphadenopathy and fever

A 28-year-old Pakistani man with previously treated latent tuberculosis (TB) presented with a 3-month history of productive cough, fever, drenching night sweats, anorexia, sore throat and tender left cervical lymphadenopathy. Extensive biochemical and microbiological tests, and imaging studies were all inconclusive. Lymph node biopsy revealed the diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD). He had persistent fever and anorexia during admission despite supportive measures which resolved quickly on starting prednisolone. He remained well after being weaned off steroids on 18 weeks' follow-up. KFD is a rare, self-limiting disease which can mimic several serious conditions such as TB and lymphoma. Prompt diagnosis with lymph node biopsy is paramount in addressing diagnostic uncertainty and avoids starting potentially toxic treatment on these patients.

TB or not to be? Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a rare but important differential for TB

A 29-year-old British Pakistani woman presented with a 2-month history of drenching fevers, night sweats, lethargy and tender cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy. Initial investigations, bloods and imaging were unremarkable. Fever persisted during her admission, and treatment for tuberculosis (TB) lymphadenitis was started postbiopsy until histology confirmed a diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease (KFD). KFD has a non-specific presentation of fever, night sweats and lymphadenopathy and commonly raises a clinical suspicion of a number of other serious conditions such as TB, lymphoma, HIV, systemic lupus erythematous, toxoplasmosis and infectious mononucleosis. Although rare, KFD should be considered to be a differential diagnosis for fever of unknown origin and tender lymphadenopathy in otherwise well individuals. This case demonstrates the importance of a timely histological biopsy diagnosis to prevent an incorrect diagnosis and administration of unnecessary medications.

Eosinophilia and multiple lymphadenopathy: Kimura disease, a rare, but benign condition

Kimura disease is a benign rare chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology. This disease is mainly endemic in Asia, although cases have also been reported in Europe and America. We describe a case in a 34-year-old Chinese man presenting with severe eosinophilia and multiple lymphadenopathy. Since our initial aim was to rule out the diagnosis of lymphoma, and given the limitations of our laboratory, we decided to perform an excision of one of the cervical lymph nodes. The histological diagnosis was consistent with Kimura disease. We review the epidemiology, the aetiology and clinical features of this entity.