Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a benign cause of fever and lymphadenopathy

To describe 6 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and to review the literature.

Review of 6 patients with biopsy-proven Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease detected at a university hospital over a 5-year period.

Six patients presented with localized, mild lymph node enlargement. In 3 cases, dramatic fever, chills, weight loss and systemic complaints were present. These features prompted prolonged antibiotic therapy and extensive evaluations of fever of unknown origin before the diagnosis was made by biopsy of the minimally enlarged lymph nodes. The 3 remaining patients were otherwise asymptomatic and well. All 6 subjects recovered without specific therapy.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a recently described cause of benign, self-limited lymphadenopathy that is easily confused histologically and clinically with lymphoma and systemic lupus erythematosis. Clinicians and pathologists must be aware of this condition. Although it is an uncommon cause of fever of unknown origin, early recognition of KFD will minimize potentially harmful and unnecessary evaluations and treatments.