Kikuchi-Fujimoto Lymphadenitis

Synonyms

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis; Kikuchi disease; Necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration; Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis

Definition

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), first described by M. Kikuchi and Y. Fujimoto and colleagues in 1972, is a rare cause of lymphadenopathy characterized by lymphadenitis with histiocytic proliferation and abundant karyorrhectic debris (Kikuchi 1972; Fujimoto et al. 1972).

KFD most commonly affects young adults of Asian descent with a female preponderance. However, the condition has been reported in both genders and in various ethnic backgrounds; it may also affect children. KFD typically presents with unilateral, frequently painful, cervical lymphadenopathy with an acute or subacute onset. Approximately half of the patients report fever and night sweats, often associated with upper respiratory symptoms. Neutropenia, anemia, and atypical lymphocytosis in peripheral blood are described in up to 50% of cases. Extranodal...