title: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign and self-limited disease, first reported in Japan in 1972. The characteristic features of this disorder include lymphadenopathy and fever.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize our experience with Kikuchi disease with regard to clinical manifestations and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients included in the study were those diagnosed with Kikuchi disease during the years 2005-2008 in two departments of internal medicine at Sheba Medical Center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified five patients with Kikuchi disease; four were women and the mean age was 22.6 years. All the patients had cervical lymphadenopathy; three had other sites of lymphadenopathy. Four of the patients had fever higher than 39 degrees C. Two of them had splenomegaly and three reported weight loss. Three of the five patients experienced a relapse of the disease and were treated with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the patients by an excisional biopsy of lymph node.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kikuchi disease must be considered in every young patient with fever and lymphadenopathy. The disease usually has a benign course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Hadar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duskin-Bitan
authors.forename: Shaye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kivity
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olchovsky
authors.forename: Ginette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schiby
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ezra
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mouallem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D055815:Young Adult