Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's Disease): Clinicopathologic Characteristics of 23 Cases and Literature Review

PARAMEE THONGSUKSAI, M.D.*, KANITA KAYASUT, M.D.*

Affiliation : * Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.

AbstractKikuchi's disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a self limiting disorder which usually affects young women and manifests clinically by cervical lymphadenopathy with or without fever. Though the disease has been described since 1972, many clinicians and patholo- gists are unaware of its existence. We therefore reviewed 23 cases of Kikuchi's disease in Songkla- nagarind Hospital from 1987 to 1996. Clinical data, histopathology including immunostaining were presented together with brief literature review. We found 18 women and 5 men with the age range 9-57 years. The sites of nodal enlargement were cervical in 17, axillary in 3 and unknown in 3 cases. Typical histologic features namely patchy paracortical lymphohistiocytic aggregates with variable karyorrhexis and absence of granulocytic infiltration 'were seen. Immunostaining confirmed that the principle cells were histiocytes and T-lymphocytes. Importance in the recogni- tion of the entity was emphasized for it may be mistaken for other infective lymphadenitis or lymphoma.

Keywords : Lymphadenitis, Necrotizing Lymphadenitis, Clinicopathologic Characteristics, Literature Review

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