Kikuchi – Fujimoto Disease. Case report and a brief review of the literature

Abstract

Kikuchi Fujimoto disease (KFD) was first described in Japan in 1972 almost simultaneously by Kikuchi and Fujimoto. It is a rare, self-limiting, benign form of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, which can be mistaken for tuberculosis, lymphoma or systemic lupus erythematosus. Although the pathogenesis of KFD is not fully understood, infectious and autoimmune etiologies have been proposed. It generally presents as cervical lymphadenopathy with associated systemic signs and symptoms. Definitive diagnosis requires histopathological examination of the affected lymph nodes. There are only few cases described in the literature, as far as we are aware we report the first case of KFD in the Dominican Republic.

Keywords

• Kikuchi Fujimoto disease
• Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis
• lupus erythematosus
• tuberculosis