CASE REPORT   

European Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2021 December;5(3):121-4

DOI: 10.23736/S2532-3466.20.00238-6

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a rare case

Georgia BARRON ¹, Bhavesh KARBHARI ¹ ✉, Daanesh TARAPOREWALA ², Neil OPIE ³

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, UK; ² Department of Pathology, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, UK; ³ Maxillofacial Surgeon Consultant, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, UK

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, idiopathic benign lymphadenopathy, characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy, fever and night sweats. A 33-year-old Caucasian female was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Department on the “2-week wait pathway” with a 3-month history of a neck lump of unknown cause. MR imaging was suggestive of malignancy in the right neck. Following excision biopsy of a right level IV neck node, a diagnosis of KFD was made. The etiology of KFD remains largely unknown, however the disease has been linked to autoimmune conditions particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. There is no definitive treatment for KFD. It is self-limiting and generally resolves over several months. Despite its rarity, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of “lymph node enlargement,” as it can easily be mistaken for pathologic conditions, resulting in inappropriate, aggressive and potentially harmful treatments.

KEY WORDS: Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis; Head and neck neoplasms; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Oral surgery