Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in inguinal lymph node - A rare site of occurrence

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. It is a benign, systemic lymphadenitis, self limiting disease first described independently by Japanese Pathologists Kikuchi and Fujimoto in Japan in 1972. The incidence of KFD is unknown. KFD is up to 4 times commoner in women. It presents as lymphadenopathy mainly involving the posterior cervical region, but can occur in any lymph node and even in extra nodal sites. Fever is associated with lymph node enlargement in half of the cases. Though viral and autoimmune cause is suggested by some studies, the exact etiology remains uncertain. There have also been reports of a relation between KFD and systemic lupus erythematosus. Most of the preoperative diagnostic tests are inconclusive. Definitive diagnosis depends on the histopathological examination of the lymph node biopsy. Clinically it has to be differentiated from other lesions like malignant lymphoma, mononucleosis tuberculosis and SLE as treatment and prognosis differs. Here we submit a case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in an inguinal lymph node in a young adult auto driver.