A Challenging Case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a rare disease that is frequently underdiagnosed due to clinical features that are similar to those of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or infectious reactive lymphadenopathy. An excisional biopsy is required. We report a young Caucasian female diagnosed with KFD with skin lesions, complicating with SLE. The clinical course, laboratory, and CT findings are described, as are histopathologic features, for a better recognition of this rare disorder in clinical practice.

Figure 1

(a) H&E stained section (10x) of lymph node. Foci of necrosis containing abundant karyorrhectic debris. (b) Immunohistochemical stained section (10x). CD68-positive histiocytes. (c) Immunohistochemical stained section (10x). Abundant CD3 dim positive immunoblastic T-cells. (d) H&E stained section (40x) of lymph node. Infiltration pattern with abundant transformed lymphocytes with immunoblast morphology.