Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, also known as necrotizing lymphadenitis, viral lymphadenitis, and subacute lymphadenitis, was first proposed by Kikuchi and Fujimoto in Japan, hence also called Kikuchi disease or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. It is a non-neoplastic lymph node enlargement disease, classified as a reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes. This disease is more common in Eastern countries such as Japan and China, and is rare in Western countries. It mainly affects young adults, with a slight female predominance. Clinically, it follows a subacute course, with main symptoms of persistent high fever, lymph node enlargement with normal or slightly decreased white blood cell count, ineffective antibiotic treatment, and often preceded by viral infection. In most cases, it is a mild self-limiting disease.