A Case of KiKuchi-Fujimoto Disease/Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis in 25 years old African American Female | Biomedgrid

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a self-limiting condition that primarily affects adult females less than the age of 40. The characteristic clinical presentation of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is recurrent fevers, benign lymphadenopathy, and other systemic symptoms. The etiology of this syndrome is still unclear. Pathogenesis, according to clinical presentation and histological changes, suggests an immune response with the involvement of T cells and histiocytes. It has been proposed that Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease progression involves three distinct phases: proliferative, necrotizing, and xanthomatous phase. The histology of the involved lymph node demonstrates paracortical expansion of histiocytes, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and CD8+ T cells. Moreover, areas of apoptotic necrosis are present in addition to characteristic absence of neutrophils. No specific laboratory tests currently exist that can diagnose Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease directly. Instead, the diagnosis requires histopathological and immunohistochemical examination in order to exclude other diseases with entirely different treatment course. Exclusion of lymphoma and systemic lupus erythematosus is imperative to avoid unnecessary and detrimental treatment. Treatment of Kikuchi disease involves only supportive measures because independent spontaneous resolution of this disease occurs within a 4-month period.