• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.485-492
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• 1993

Necrotizing lymphadenitis was first recognised as a self-limiting lymphadenitis by Japanese workers in 1972. It is a distinct clinicopathologic entity, but can be mistaken as malignant lymphoma. We have studied clinicopathologic features in 15 cases of necrotizing lymphadenitis. This disease occurs predominantly in young adult. Male-female ratio is 2 : 1. The commonest presentation is lateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Pain, tenderness, and fever can be seen. Biopsy of the lymph nodes from all patients demonstrates the characteristic histologic features : multifocal, relatively circumscribed nodules in the cortex and/or paracortex, consisting of a mixture of activated large lymphoid cells, histiocytes and small lymphocytes. Numerous karyorrhetic debris are present. Neutrophils and plasma cells are strikingly absent.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2021

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a self-limiting lymphadenitis. It is a benign disease mainly characterized by high fever, lymph node swelling, and leukopenia. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disease with clinical symptoms similar to those of KFD, but it requires a significantly more aggressive treatment. A 19-year-old Korean male patient was hospitalized for fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Variable-sized lymph node enlargements with slightly necrotic lesions were detected on computed tomography. Biopsy specimen from a cervical lymph node showed necrotizing lymphadenitis with HLH. Bone marrow aspiration showed hemophagocytic histiocytosis. The clinical symptoms and the results of the laboratory test and bone marrow aspiration met the diagnostic criteria for HLH. The patient was diagnosed with macrophage activation syndrome-HLH, a secondary HLH associated with KFD. He was treated with dexamethasone (10 mg/m²/day) without immunosuppressive therapy or etoposide-based chemotherapy. The fever disappeared within a day, and other symptoms such as lymphadenopathy, ascites, and pleural effusion improved. Dexamethasone was reduced from day 2 of hospitalization and was tapered over 8 weeks. The patient was discharged on day 6 with continuation of dexamethasone. The patient had no recurrence at the 18-month follow-up.

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

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 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 Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.217-221
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• 1999

Background and Objectives: Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi's disease has now become recognized in many parts of the world as a well-defined clinicopathologic entity. It typically affects cervical lymph nodes of young women, and subsides spontaneously within a few months without recurrences. The purpose of this study is to report the clinicopathologic finding, radiologic finding and many laboratory tests to elaborate the criteria that are useful in distinguishing this entity from inflammatory disease, granulomatous disease, lymphoma, malignant disease. Material and Methods: Authors evaluated 22 patients, who were diagnosed as subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis on excisional biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology with retrospective chart review. Results: The patient population consisted of 21 women and 1 men. The mean age was 25 years old(range 17 to 42 years). All patient had palpable neck mass and associated fever, headache, weight loss, otalgia, diarrhea, night sweating. and associated disorder is dermatitis, hepatitis B, SLE, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, albinism et al. The multiple bilateral involvement of cervical lymph node was 20 cases(91%) and multiple unilateral 18 cases(82%), multiple bilateral 2 cases(9%). Solitary involvement was 2 cases(9%), mean size of involved lymph node was 2.0cm. In laboratory tests, leukopenia 17 cases(72%), elevated ESR 12 cases(54%), elevated GOT, GPT 3 cases(13%). In CT finding, lymph nodes enhanced in homogeneous fashion, and there was no evidence of central necrosis. Conclusion: Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis, Kikuchi's disease may be easily confused clinically, pathologically, radiologically with malignant lymphoma, inflammatory disease, granulomatous disease. We should consider open biopsy of lymph node in the patient which had unilateral multiple cervical lymph node and in laboratory tests, were leukopenia, elevated ESR, especially in young women. otherwise, result of fine needle aspiration biopsy is nonspecific, excisional biopsy is recommended in order to differentiate other disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 1991

Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis is characterized by cervical lymphadenpathy in young patients and mistaken for malignant disease both clinically and histologically. Microscopically, there is a varying degree of effacement of the lymph node architecture and necrosis with an infiltrate of histiocytic cells and absence of polymorphs. We have experienced 4 cases of cervical lymphadenopathy accompanied by fever. All cases had complete recovery to conservative treatment only. The excised lymph nodes were moderately enlarged and typically showed varying degree of necrotizing lesions, and abundant karyorrhectic debris, scattered fibrin deposits, aggregates of large mononuclear cells, and a paucity of plasma cell and neutrophils. For investigating the etiology and pathogenesis of this lesion, further clinical study and stepwise pathologic and immunologic planning would be valuable.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1198-1204
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• 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
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.253-259
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• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.987-991
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• 2008

Purpose : Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), is a self-limited disease characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. The etiology of KFD remains unknown; however, the self-limiting nature of HNL suggests the cause of this disease could be viral infection. For this reason, several viruses have been evaluated as possible etiologies of HNL, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of EBV and HHV6 to HNL. Methods : Data pertaining to 51 cases with biopsy-confirmed HNL were collected between January 1999 and December 2005, from the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. The clinical records-including data regarding age, gender, duration of fever, and lymph node involvementwere reviewed retrospectively. The in situ hybridization (ISH) assay was performed by EBER PNA probe (Dako, Capinteria, CA, USA), and immunohistochemistry testing was performed with anti-HHV type 6 monoclonal antibodies (Chemicon, Temecula, CA, USA). Results : The HNL patients in this study were 24 males and 27 females, ranging in age from seven to 61 years (median: 25.9). ISH for EBV was positive in 8/51 (15.7%) biopsies, and immunohistochemistry for HHV6 was positive in 15/51 (29.4%) biopsies. Serologic analysis of EBV IgM was performed in 23 cases; only one patient was positive for EBV IgM and EBV ISH. Conclusion : Our study could not provide supportive evidence of a viral pathogenesis for HNL; therefore, cases of HNL may not have a dominant viral cause. However, some rare exceptional cases may have been caused by viral infection.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.188-190
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• 2012

Kikuchi's disease (KD) is an idiopathic and self-limiting necrotizing lymphadenitis that predominantly occurs in young females. It is common in Asia, and the cervical lymph nodes are commonly involved. Generally, KD has symptoms and signs of lymph node tenderness, fever, and leukocytopenia, but there are no reports on treatment for the associated myofacial pain. We herein report a young female patient who visited a pain clinic and received a trigger point injection 2 weeks before the diagnosis of KD. When young female patients with myofascial pain visit a pain clinic, doctors should be concerned about the possibility of KD, which is rare but can cause severe complications.