[Necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration or Kikuchi disease. Description of 5 cases]

The authors describe five cases of necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocyte infiltration or Kikuchi's disease. Of the patients, all young, four were females and one of male sex. In one case serological positivity was found for the anti Toxoplasma antibodies. Histologically they are noted in the lymph node infiltration areas constituted by histiocytes, immunoblasts, lymphocytes and plasmacytoid cells with phenomena of variable degree necrosis. Granulocytes were absent in all. Cytochemistry and immunohistochemistry studies with specific antiserums for the k and lambda chains, the S100 protein and the MB1, MB2 and MT1 antigens, the Lisozyme and the alpha 1 antichymotrypsin, show a prevalent histiocyte population, associated with a modest polyclonal B component and with a T population of variable entity. The plasmacytoid component did not appear reactive to the same antibodies.