Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: An Exuberant Localized T Cell Activation Arrested By Histiocytes?

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a relatively new disease entity seen in the U.S. that primarily affects young women. Originally discovered in 1972 in Japan, it is now seen in the U.S. By 1993 approximately 200 cases had been reported. The disease is a self-limiting process of unknown etiology.