Kimura's disease: the CT and MRI characteristics in fifteen cases

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the CT and MRI features in a series of fifteen cases of Kimura's disease.

Materials and methods: The clinical data, CT and MRI findings of 15 patients with histologically proved Kimura's disease were retrospectively reviewed. All imaging data were consensually evaluated by two radiologists to determine the lesion location, number, morphology, margin, signal intensity or CT density, lesion texture, contrast enhancement pattern and involvement of adjacent structures.

Results: There were 14 male and 1 female, with peripheral blood eosinophilia in all 14 patients. 13 patients were presented with a painless mass. 13 patients had lesions located in the head and neck related to the major salivary glands. 1 patient had lesion in groin. Subcutaneous fat diffuse atrophy around the tumor site was found in 11 patients. 9 patients had solitary mass and 6 patients had multiple masses. Most masses were ill-defined, but no specific density or signal patterns were found. Most patients exhibited enlarged or obviously enhanced abnormal lymph nodes but without necrosis.

Conclusion: The characteristic distribution, morphology with enlarged draining lymphadenopathy, combined with the clinical features and laboratory examination enables a confident preoperative diagnosis of Kimura's disease.