Older-age onset of Kimura's disease

Abstract

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with bilateral post auricular masses, first noticed 1 year earlier. Blood tests showed eosinophilia and high immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and cervical computed tomography showed 10-mm soft tissue masses with scattered lymphadenopathy. The tumors showed intermediate and high signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted cervical magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. After mass resection, the tumors were diagnosed as Kimura's disease (KD). Generally, KD affects young men; however, even in older patients, KD should be included as a differential diagnosis for head and neck tumors in patients with eosinophilia and high IgE.

Keywords: Kimura’s disease; eosinophilia; high immunoglobulin E; older patients.

Figure 1.

Bilateral cervical computed tomography images showing masses measuring approximately 10 mm in the posterior auricular areas, with scattered small lymph nodes (A). Cervical T1-weighted magnetic resonance image showing isointense signals (B) and high-intensity signals on T2-weighted (C) and T2-weighted fat-suppressed images (D).

Figure 2.

Large and small lymphoid follicles are prominent in the connective tissue, which consists of collagen fibers and vascularization. Eosinophilic abscesses are also seen (A). Prominent infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils is seen among the lymphoid follicles (B).