Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a benign cause of fever and lymphadenopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe 6 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and to review the literature.


METHODS
Review of 6 patients with biopsy-proven Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease detected at a university hospital over a 5-year period.


RESULTS
Six patients presented with localized, mild lymph node enlargement. In 3 cases, dramatic fever, chills, weight loss and systemic complaints were present. These features prompted prolonged antibiotic therapy and extensive evaluations of fever of unknown origin before the diagnosis was made by biopsy of the minimally enlarged lymph nodes. The 3 remaining patients were otherwise asymptomatic and well. All 6 subjects recovered without specific therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a recently described cause of benign, self-limited lymphadenopathy that is easily confused histologically and clinically with lymphoma and systemic lupus erythematosis. Clinicians and pathologists must be aware of this condition. Although it is an uncommon cause of fever of unknown origin, early recognition of KFD will minimize potentially harmful and unnecessary evaluations and treatments.
Norris
A H
AH
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
Krasinskas
A M
AM
Salhany
K E
KE
Gluckman
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged