Ultrasound of Kimura's disease

Abstract

Kimura's disease is found almost exclusively in Orientals. It commonly affects the head and neck region and mainly involves the major salivary glands and regional lymph nodes. Its appearances can be mistaken for malignant disease. We present two patients with Kimura's disease. In one patient the disease involved the soft tissues and parotid gland, and in another the submandibular gland. Both patients demonstrated lymphadenopathy in the submandibular, submental areas and upper cervical region. Both patients had ultrasound examination of the salivary glands and neck. One of the patients also had contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. The clinical, pathological and imaging findings of Kimura's disease are discussed.