Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: Diagnostic Dilemma and the Role of Immunohistochemistry

Kikuchi-Fujimoto (KD) disease is the rare differential diagnoses of chronic cervical lymphadenopathy of unknown etiology. The findings of histopathology may be overlapping, in such condition immunohistochemistry has a definite role to play. Since Tubercular lymphadenopathy is the commonest cause for chronic cervical lymphadenopathy in developing and tropical country like India. Occasionally it is misdiagnosed, ignoring the other rare condition like KD if immunohistochemistry is not taken into consideration to differentiate. As a result the morbidity increases and cost of antitubercular treatment (ATT) in wrong diagnosed case is enormous. We report a similar case of misdiagnoses, non responsive to ATT, finally diagnosed as a case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, did well after recommended treatment. KEYWORDS: Necrotizing lymphadenitis; Chronic cervical lymphadenitis; Immunohistochemistry