title: Clinical manifestations of Kikuchi's disease in southern Taiwan.
abstract: Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, or Kikuchi's disease (KD), is a self-limiting cervical lymphadenitis of unknown origin. The diagnosis of KD is problematic due to the lack of specific laboratory tests. This study reviewed the clinical characteristics of 58 patients with KD. Clinical manifestations were of considerable diversity. The mean age of patients was 24.88 +/- 7.44 years and there was a female predominance (1.76:1). The most frequent clinical findings were enlarged tender lymph nodes (50%), fever (43%), sore throat (21%), non-productive cough (12%), headache (10%), chills (9%) and rhinorrhea (9%). The most common initial laboratory abnormalities were leukopenia (29%), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (14%), liver function impairment (14%), elevated C-reactive protein level (12%), and anemia (10%). Most patients had unilateral lymph node involvement (79%), which was usually located in the posterior triangle of the cervical lymph nodes (90%). Most patients had no comorbid disease (93%). No recurrence occurred. KD should be included in the differential diagnosis of fever with cervical lymphadenopathy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Susan Shin-Jung
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hung-Chin
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chun-Kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yao-Shen
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsi-Hsin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shue-Ren
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wann
authors.forename: Yung-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui-Hwa
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies