title: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, a rare cause of lymphadenopathy in Africa. Description of the first case in Senegal and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a benign disease most commonly affecting adult females. It generally presents in the form of febrile cervical lymphadenopathy. This diagnosis must be considered in the setting of tropical medicine, dominated by a high prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis and haematological malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors report the case of a 33-year-old Senegalese woman who presented with subacute cervical lymphadenopathy associated with fever and laboratory signs of inflammation. Serological and tuberculosis screening tests were negative. Histopathological examination of a lymph node biopsy, following failure of nonspecific antibiotic therapy, concluded on a diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. A favourable course was observed in response to corticosteroid therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Sub-Saharan Africa, the association of polyadenitis and febrile syndrome, after excluding tuberculosis and lymphomas, must raise the suspicion of rare diseases such as Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.
authors.affiliation: Service ORL, Hôpital Principal de Dakar, 11, rue Jean Mermoz, Dakar, Senegal. Electronic address: cheikhlame@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C-A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lame
authors.affiliation: Service ORL, Hôpital Principal de Dakar, 11, rue Jean Mermoz, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loum
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine interne, Hôpital Principal de Dakar, 11, rue Jean Mermoz, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: A-K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Fall
authors.affiliation: Service de Pathologie, GHI Le RAINCY-MONTFERMEIL, 10, rue du Général Leclerc, 93370 Montfermeil, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cucherousset
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine interne, Hôpital Principal de Dakar, 11, rue Jean Mermoz, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: A-R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020042:Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012675:Senegal; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone
keywords: Cervical lymphadenopathy; Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis; Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease; Sub-Saharan Africa