A Rare Necrotizing Lymphadenitis: Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease also known as necrotizing lymphadenitis is a rare, self limiting cause of lymphadenitis with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The clinical signs and symptoms include cervical lymphadenopathy, fever, less frequent chills, night sweats, arthralgia, rash, weight loss and symptoms of respiratory infections. Diagnosis is often based on histopathological studies involving lymph node. It is often misdiagnosed with SLE, Lymphoma etc. There is no treatment guidelines given for KFD after diagnosis it is often limited to treat the symptoms but in severe cases corticosteroids can be given. Here we discuss a 14yr old female patient presented with evening rise of temperature and significant weight loss of approximately 5kg. Along with that she has also complained about bilateral axillary swelling of small size with pain. The final diagnosis was based on lymph node biopsy indicating Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease also the laboratory values were also elevated. After diagnosis patient was treated with symptomatically and the condition of the patient also improved. Although Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease can be misdiagnosed with other diseases, a systematic diagnostic approach is needed. Since there is no specific guidelines available for the management of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, further studies are needed to conduct the therapeutic option and its long term outcome.