• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.212-216
• /
• 2000

Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis was first reported by Kikuchi and Fujimoto in 1972. Young females no more than 30 years of age are mainly affected. It usually manifests as fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. We experienced one case of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis with hepatic complication in an 11-year-old boy. Symptoms presented were URI signs, diarrhea, headache, and weight loss along with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Elevated serum AST/ALT levels were also noted up to 682/1560 (IU/L) and were normalized within one month. We performed aspiration biopsy of the liver twice (at admission and 5 months thereafter). The hepatic histopathologic findings were nonspecific.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.11
• /
• pp.1198-1204
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The cause of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis, a rare disease in children, has not been completely clarified. This study was aimed to investigate the disease mechanism by examining clinical, radiologic, and immunohistochemical findings in children diagnosed with subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis after an excisional biopsy. Methods : We examined 19 lymph node tissue specimens from 17 children diagnosed with subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from March, 1998 to July, 2006. A retrospective survey of the medical records was performed. CT findings were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining was done on tissues obtained by excisional biopsy from all patients. Results : The patient's age ranged from 5 to 19 years (average age :11.8 years). The main symptoms included a neck mass (17/19), pain in the mass (6/17), and fever (12/19). The palpable lymph nodes were mostly cervical in location; the maximum diameter, which was measured radiologically, was less than 3 cm in all 10 cases. The masses were pathologically divided into proliferative, necrotic, and xanthomatous types. With immunohistochemical staining the masses were divided into lesion (L), perilesion (PL), and necrosis (N). The CD8 staining was stronger than the CD4 staining for all regions in three types. The CD4 staining intensity was mainly increased in the perilesion, and CD8 was mainly increased in the lesion. Conclusion : We compared the radiologic findings, clinical symptoms, and pathology to help understand the cause of disease in patients with subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.118-122
• /
• 2001

Since the first description of Kikuchi disease(Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis) in Japan, 1972, this condition has been reported in a worldwide. The etiology remains unknown. This disease shows a marked predilection for young woman, and a few cases in children has been reported. The usual initial clinical manifestation is localized cervical lymphadenopathy with fever, weight loss and myalgia. We experienced a 6 year-old girl of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis with ANA, therefore report a brief review with the related literatures.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.123-126
• /
• 2003

Kikuchi disease(subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis), first reported by Kikuchi and Fujimoto in 1972, is a benign self-limiting illness characterized by fever, neutropenia and cervical lymphadenopathy and develops predominantly in young women, especially in Asia. The cause of Kikuchi disease is unknown, but postinfectious(virus or bacteria) hyperimmune reaction has been suggested. Few pediatric cases have been reported. We experienced a case of Kikuchi disease associated with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in 12-year-old girl. After she was admitted with cervical lymphadenopathy and headache, followed by sustained fever with leukopenia. All symptoms and signs did not seem to be responded to antimicobial treatment. Open biopsy of cervical lymph node was performed and showed findings consistent with subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis. Serologic studies were all negative except for Y. pseudotuberculosis. Fever subsided and lymphadenopathy improved after administration of oral steroid for 1 week.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.133-136
• /
• 2003

Background and Objectives: Kikuchi's disease or subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis is a cause of persistently enlarged lymph nodes unresponsive to antibiotic therapy. It affects predominantly young women under the age of 30, and it is seen primarily in the Asian population. Although this disease usually follows a benign course, all describing a clinical entity that has been mistaken for malignant lymphoma, lupus, and an assortment of infectious diseases. The purpose of this study is to report clinical characteristics and treatment outcome in order to contribute to the precise diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 27 cases, who were diagnosed as subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis on excisional biopsy during the past 5 years from January 1998 to December 2002. Results: It occurred more often in females (20 cases ; 74%) than males (7cases ; 26%), and it was seen more frequently in the second and third decades (21 cases ; 78%). Cervical lymphadenopathy were usually multiple (24 cases, 89%) and measured less than 2cm (20 cases, 74%). The posterior cervical and deep jugular chains are the most common location(34 cases ; 81%). Leukopenia(18 cases, 67%) and elevated ESR(20 cases, 75%) were commonly noted in laboratory data. Conclusions: It is easy that Kikuchi's disease is mistaken for malignant lymphoma. So we should consider fine needle aspiration or open biosy of lymph node for histologic diagnosis in patients who have localized cervical lymphadenopathy unresponsive to antibiotic therapy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.129-135
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Kikuchi disease is a subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis characterized by fever, cervical lymphadenopathy and benign self-limiting course in young women especially, but rare in children. Their etiopathology is still unknown, but involved viruses and autoimmune mechanism were proposed. We investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children. Methods : Five patients were diagnosed of Kikuchi disease from January 2001 to June 2006 in Kyunghee University Hospital. We reviewed their medical records retrospectively and analyzed clinical and laboratory findings. Results : The mean age of 5 patients (male to female ratio; 2:3) was 9 yr 9 mon(range: 8 yr 2 mon-12 yr 6 mon). The chief complaints were sustained fever and cervical lymph node that was unilateral, tender and swollen. All patients were treated with antibiotics before diagnosis was made, and rash developed in 2 patients. One patient showed necrotic change in ultrasound with which we suspected Kikuchi disease. Three patients were examined by CT scan additionally. The interval between admission and cervical lymph node excisional biopsy ranged from 6 days to 15 days, and mean period was 9.6 days. All pathological findings were compatible to necrotizing lymphandenitis. Conclusion : Unnecessary laboratory and imaging studies, and treatment with antibiotics tend to be done before making diagnosis, and that caused prolonged hospitalization. Therefore we studied the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kikuchi disease in children.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.253-259
• /
• 2001

Kikuchi's disease(histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis) is characterized by lymphadenopathy in young patients below 30 years old, and persistent fever, lymphopenia and splenomegaly are concomitantly developed in many cases. So, it has been confused with lymphoma, SLE, and tuberculosis, and has easily led to inappropriate diagnostic procedures and administration of drugs. Many reports have indicated that Kikuchi's disease should be added to the list of causes of FUO in the setting of lymphadenopathy, and recommended early lymph node biopsy to distinguish from lymphoma, SLE, and tuberculosis to avoid unnecessary treatments. We experienced a case of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis in a 14-year-old boy who presented with persistent high fever, productive coughing and cervical lymphadenopathy for about 1 month. Initially, diagnostic workup was done to look for the causes of FUO in vain. Finally, we confirmed diagnosis by histopathological findings of lymph node biopsy and detected latent gene of EBV in the biopsied specimen using in situ hybridization.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.23-27
• /
• 1994

Three cases of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) of enlarged lymph nodes are reported. The FNA smears contained randomly activated lymphoid cells, necrotic debris and histiocytes. The same patterns were found in subsequently examined excised lymph nodes from these cases. The differential diagnosis of this entity is discussed and the value of preparing FNA cell blocks and accompanying AFB stain with culture is emphasized. FNA may be able to provide a diagnosis in case of this benign disease, therefore avoiding a more traumatic excisional biopsy.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2000

Background:Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi's disease is unknown ethiology and self-limiting process. This disease predominantly affects young women age but rarely affects pediatrics, and usually manifests as lymphadenopathy and fever. Even though this disease is self-limited, benign process, many cases are misidentified as malignant lymphoma. The purpose of this study is to report the clinicopathologic finding, radiological finding and many labolatory test and to compare with characteristics of adult patients in this disease. Meterial and Methods:We reviewed 27 pediarics patients with subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis by excision biopsy or fineneedle aspiration cytology.Result:The most common symptomes were palpation of cervical lymh node(88.9%) and fever(66.7%). The common site of the involvement was cervical lymph node. The multiple involvement was 93% and bilateral involvement was 59%. Leukopenia(52%) and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates(93%) appeared in abnormal laboratory data. Microscopically, the characteristic finding was the wide area of florid nuclear dusts engulfed by histiocytes and well-circumscrbed area with eosinophilic fibrinoid material. There was a striking degree ofkaryorrhexis and an absence of granulocyte with paucity of plasma cell. All patients recovered with the conservative treatment and there was no specific complication and recurrence. Conclusion : We reviewed pediatric patients with this disease. Characteristics of this disease inpediatric patients were similar to adult patients.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.227-232
• /
• 2008

A 16-year-old girl presented with proteinuria and microscopic hematuria detected through mass urinary screening and was diagnosed as having suspected postinfectious glomerulonephritis by renal biopsy. However, heavy proteinuria did not respond to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy. After 6 months, cervical lymphadenitis developed and a neck node biopsy showed subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis. After an additional 2 months, she developed facial erythema and thrombocytopenia. A repeat renal biopsy demonstrated lupus nephritis class IV. She was treated with pulse methylprednisolone(500 mg/day intravenously for 3 consecutive days) followed by oral deflazacort and monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse(1 g/$m^2$) for 6 months. We report a case diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) during medical follow-up after urinary screening.