Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Case report

A 31 year-old woman, with nodules and discomfort in the right cervical region and weight loss was referred to Internal Medicine outpatient clinics on suspicion of lymphoproliferative disease. She had left posterior cervical lymphadenopathy without inflammation, nor other enlarged organs. The lymph node biopsy revealed aspects of Kikuchi lymphadenopathy. Laboratory evaluation allowed to exclude infectious and immunological causes. The myelogram and body CT scan showed no abnormalities. Given the limited pain she was only treated with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug. There has been clinical improvement and disappearance of lymphadenopathy. Kikuchi's disease is a rare cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in young women complaining with fever and weight loss. The etiology is unknown. Usually the symptoms resolve spontaneously in one to four months; in more severe cases may be used glucocorticoids. Some patients develop systemic lupus erythematosus.