Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a case report and the evaluation of diagnostic procedures

• Main Authors: Shenjie Xu, Weilian Sun, Jiamei Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-10-01
• Series: BMC Oral Health
• Subjects: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease; Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis; Diagnosis; Rare disease
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-019-0920-4

Abstract Background Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a benign, self-limiting and systemic disorder involving lymph nodes with unknown aetiology. First reported in Japan, there has been an increase in its incidence globally. Because of its non-specific clinical features, the disease can be easily mistaken for other forms of lymphadenitis with a high rate of misdiagnosis and mistreatment, posing a considerable challenge. Case presentation A case of young Chinese woman with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy is presented. Physical examinations and imaging techniques were used to rule out common forms of lymphadenitis (e.g. cat-scratch disease and tuberculous lymphadenitis). Laboratory tests were then conducted to exclude others such as systemic lupus erythematosus and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease was identified, the patient was managed with symptomatic treatments. Our case was compared with relevant cases in the literature. A diagnostic flow chart was proposed to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions With its shared clinical features, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease can be mistaken for other forms of lymphadenitis. A combined use of medical imaging and laboratory tests is the effective way to avoid misdiagnosis.