Kikuchi’s disease (KD); mimicking malignant lymphoma: A rare cause of cervical lymphadenopathy.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to present six cases of cervical lymphadenopathy, diagnosed as Kikuchi’s disease and raise the index of suspicion for this disease. Study Design: Case Series. Setting: Histopathology and Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery Department at Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) Peshawar. Period: July 2016 to March 2021. Material & Methods: Records of patients for cases diagnosed as “histiocytic necrotising lymphadenitis” were retrieved, their corresponding patient files accessed from the archive, and case notes analyzed. Results: In this series, a total of six cases of Kikuchi’s disease are presented. A female predominance is evident from the present data (2:1 female to male ratio). All patients presented with palpable lymph nodes in the neck, predominantly on the left (66.7%). Majority (66.7%) presented with neuralgic pain (on/off). Only one patient did not show weight loss and night sweating, the remaining had all the symptoms. All of the patients recovered spontaneously within 6 months (range 2 to 6 months) with symptomatic treatment for neuralgic pain. Conclusion: Kikuchi’s disease should be kept in the differential diagnosis in young females with persistent neck masses, palpable lymph nodes and suspicious fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).