Kimura's disease: clinical, histological and immunohistochemical studies

In the present study, 14 cases of Kimura's disease were clinicopathologically studied. The disease occurred at ages ranging from 5 to 75 years. The average age was 37.8 years. Sexes were about equally affected. The most common sites were the subcutis of head and neck, and parotid gland. Simultaneous involvement of lymph nodes occurred in 5 cases. Laboratory findings revealed eosinophilia in almost all the patients, but serum IgE levels were not elevated in 2 patients. Lesions were surgically removed and the clinical course thereafter was favorable for all but one case. Histologically, lesions were characterized by lymphoid follicles, granulation tissue with infiltration by many eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, mast cells and histiocytes, proliferation of blood vessels and fibrosis. Immunohistochemically, IgE reacted strongly in germinal centers, showing a reticular pattern. IgG-, IgA- and lysozyme-positive cells were scattered mainly in interfollicular granulomatous areas. Pathogenesis of this disease is briefly discussed.