[Kikuchi-Fusimoto disease: the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenitis with recurrent attacks of fever].
METHODS
A 49-year-old, otherwise healthy woman had recurrent fever and lymphadenopathy with leukopenia for nineteen years. Her symptoms prompted successless antibiotic therapy and extensive evaluations of fever of unknown origin. At admission there were several enlarged cervical lymph nodes and subfebrile temperatures.


METHODS
Neither laboratory findings nor imaging did show an infectious, rheumatologic or hematologic cause of her symptoms. Histopathological examination of an lymph node biopsy revealed histiocytic, necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi-Fusimoto disease) as the underlying disease.


METHODS
After spontaneous resolution without specific therapy the patient is now symptomless and well 9 months after diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Kikuchi-Fusimoto disease is a cause of benign and usually self-limiting lymphadenopathy. Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of this uncommon differential diagnosis since early histologic recognition will minimize potentially and unnecessary evaluations and treatments.
Kosch
M
M
Medizinische Poliklinik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. m.a.kosch@uni-muenster.de
Schmid
K W
KW
Hausberg
M
M
Rahn
K H
KH
Kisters
K
K
D001706:Biopsy; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors