Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Study Of 67 Cases From Coastal South India 

Abstract

Background Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a rare, benign condition, of unknown etiology, presenting as cervical lymphadenitis, usually tender and maybe associated with systemic symptoms. Despite the extensive literature on this disease, it continues to be misdiagnosed owing to its misleading clinical presentation. Results The mean age in our study was 26.9 (±11.3) years with a female majority of 65.7%. The clinical presentation of most cases was, tender swelling over the side of the neck ( n =50, 74.6%). On local examination, the mean length and width were 2.3 (±1.0) cm and 2.2 (±0.7) cm respectively. Histopathological examination revealed that most patients presented in the proliferative stage ( n =40, 59.7%). In 83.6% of the patients lymphadenopathy resolved in less than 2 months. Follow up of these patients over 9 months revealed that a vast majority of the patients underwent full recovery with symptomatic treatment ( n =42, 62.7%). Conclusions The disease is prevalent in young, female patients of Asian descent and often presents as cervical lymphadenopathy. Early diagnosis with excisional lymph node biopsy is crucial to avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment. Treatment is only symptomatic unless complicated, where steroid therapy is considered. Kikuchi’s disease has an excellent prognosis with almost no risk of fatality.