Kimura's disease: a diagnostic challenge

Kimura's disease is a rare inflammatory disorder of unknown cause, primarily seen in young Asian males. The disease is characterized by a triad of painless subcutaneous masses in the head or neck region, blood and tissue eosinophilia, and markedly elevated serum immunoglobulin E levels. We describe an 11-year-old Asian boy with Kimura's disease who presented with a chronic left neck mass. The diagnosis was based on the characteristic histopathologic findings after surgical excision in conjunction with peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum immunoglobulin E levels. Pediatricians in western countries should be aware of the clinical presentation of Kimura's disease.