[Kikuchi's disease associated with cutaneous manifestations evoking Well's syndrome].
BACKGROUND
Wells' syndrome is a dermatological disease with polymorphous lesions characterized histologically by an eosinophilic infiltrate of the dermis with edema and flame figures. Kikuchi's disease is a benign cause of lymphadenitis corresponding histologically to a necrotizing histiocyting adenitis without neutrophils. We describe the association of a Kikuchi's disease and cutaneous lesions similar to Wells'syndrome.


METHODS
A 62-year-old man presented over 3 years several simultaneous episodes of left axillary lymphadenitis and of cutaneous lesions compatible with a diagnosis of Wells'syndrome. No precipitating event or disease described with the Wells'syndrome was established. Concerning the axillary nodes, a cancer, a lymphoproliferative syndrome, a systemic lupus and several infectious diseases were excluded. Standard histology and immunochemistry of a lymph node showed signs of Kikuchi's disease. Bilateral anterior uveitis was incidentally detected. The three conditions improved with oral corticosteroids (1 mg/kg/d).


CONCLUSIONS
The patient had Kikuchi's disease and a recurrent dermatosis for which the clinical and histological aspects, the evolution and the absence of arguments for another cause, suggest a Wells'syndrome. Cutaneous manifestations occur in 16 to 40 p. 100 of cases of Kikuchi's disease and often have characteristic histologic features not corresponding to Wells'syndrome. The association of the 2 diseases may be then incidental, despite 4 simultaneous episodes. Two viral agents, VIH and VZV have been associated with the two diseases but do not seem to be the cause in our patient. Concerning the anterior uveitis, a single case of uveitis has been described for each condition.
Viseux
V
V
Service de Dermatologie, CHIC, Hôpital Laënnec, Quimper. v.viseux@ch-cornouaille.fr
Schoenlaub
P
P
Marciniak
S
S
Staroz
F
F
Plantin
P
P
D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome