Kimura Disease Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Karolyn A Wanat, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 11, 2010
 

History

Lesions of Kimura disease typically are slow-growing, painless masses with occasional pruritus of the overlying skin.

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Physical

Patients with Kimura disease may present with a solitary enlarged painless lymph node or generalized lymphadenopathy. Salivary gland involvement is also frequently observed. Other findings include single or multiple pink-to-red cutaneous nodules, which are usually located on the head or neck, especially in the periauricular, parotid, or submandibular regions. Less frequently, the eyelids, orbit, and lacrimal glands may be involved. The average diameter of lesions is 3 cm. Although Kimura disease mainly affects the head and neck, involvement of the extremities and inguinal lymph nodes has been reported.

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Causes

The exact etiology of Kimura disease is unknown, but it has been proposed that the interaction between TH 1 and TH 2 lymphocytes results in an abnormal production of eosinophils and immunoglobulin E. An inciting autoimmunity, allergic reaction or an alteration of immune regulation is suspected. Proposed theories include persistent antigenic stimulation following arthropod bites, parasitic infestation, or viral or candidal infection. However, none of these theories has been substantiated.[3]

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Karolyn A Wanat, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Karolyn A Wanat, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and American Medical Women's Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Alaina J James, MD, PhD  Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Alaina J James, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, National Medical Association, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Takeji Nishikawa, MD  Emeritus Professor, Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine; Director, Samoncho Dermatology Clinic; Managing Director, The Waksman Foundation of Japan Inc

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Daniel S Loo, MD  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, Tufts Medical Center

Daniel S Loo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Association of Professors of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE  Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Kimura T, Yoshimura S, Ishikawa E. On the unusual granulation combined with hyperplastic changes of lymphatic tissues. Trans Soc Pathol Jpn. 1948;37:179-80.

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