eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Reactive & Inflammatory Dermatoses

Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease: Treatment & Medication

Author: Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, New York Medical College-Metropolitan Hospital; Private Practice
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 12, 2008

Treatment

Medical Care

Once the diagnosis is established, no specific medical care is indicated because this is a self-limited condition.

  • One case report has noted that minocycline was helpful in abating KD.
  • Another report has noted that systemic steroids can be helpful in cases that do not abate or are recurrences.
  • In 2007, Khan et al22 described a 40-year-old Nepali man who was admitted to the hospital with a 1-month history of fever associated with swelling, pain, and redness on the right side of his neck. His biopsy results showed the hemophagocytosis and typical necrotizing lymphadenitis of KD. He took naproxen at 500 mg twice daily orally for 10 days, and his fever and lymphadenopathy resolved. Because KD is self-limited, the role of therapy in this case report is uncertain.

Surgical Care

No surgical care is needed besides performing a lymph node biopsy to make the diagnosis.

Consultations

Consultation from a dermatologist, a pathologist, a surgeon, and an otolaryngologist can be helpful in establishing the diagnosis.

Medication

No specific medical therapy is indicated.

More on Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease

Overview: Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease
Treatment & Medication: Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease
Follow-up: Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease
References
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References

  1. Zhang WP, Wang JH, Wang WQ, Chen XQ, Wang Z, Li YF, et al. An association between parvovirus B19 and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Viral Immunol. Sep 2007;20(3):421-8. [Medline].

  2. Chuang CH, Yan DC, Chiu CH, Huang YC, Lin PY, Chen CJ, et al. Clinical and laboratory manifestations of Kikuchi's disease in children and differences between patients with and without prolonged fever. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jun 2005;24(6):551-4. [Medline].

  3. Rau AR, Kini H. Clinicopathological study of Kikuchi's disease. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. Jul 2007;50(3):485-8. [Medline].

  4. Lima M, Silvestre F, Correia J, Oliveira J, Justiça B. Kikuchi's disease: a case report with emphasis on flow cytometric studies. Sangre (Barc). Oct 1996;41(5):383-6. [Medline].

  5. Harris VK, Danda D, Murali NS, Das PK, Abraham M, Cherian AM, et al. Unusual association of Kikuchi's disease and dengue virus infection evolving into systemic lupus erythematosus. J Indian Med Assoc. Jul 2000;98(7):391-3. [Medline].

  6. Viseux V, Schoenlaub P, Marciniak S, Staroz F, Plantin P. [Kikuchi's disease associated with cutaneous manifestations evoking Well's syndrome]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. Dec 2003;130(12 Pt 1):1150-3. [Medline].

  7. Join-Lambert OF, Ouache M, Canioni D, Beretti JL, Blanche S, Berche P, et al. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis necrotizing lymphadenitis in a twelve-year-old patient. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Sep 2006;25(9):848-51. [Medline].

  8. Carlson JA, Perlmutter A, Tobin E, Richardson D, Rohwedder A. Adverse antibiotic-induced eruptions associated with epstein barr virus infection and showing Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease-like histology. Am J Dermatopathol. Feb 2006;28(1):48-55. [Medline].

  9. Kim KJ, Jee MS, Chang SE, Choi JH, Sung KJ, Moon KC, et al. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with papulopustular skin manifestations. Clin Exp Dermatol. Mar 2003;28(2):142-4. [Medline].

  10. Imai K, Yokozeki H, Nishioka K. Kikuchi's disease (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis) with cutaneous involvement. J Dermatol. Sep 2002;29(9):587-92. [Medline].

  11. Kaur S, Thami GP, Mohan H, Kanwar AJ. Kikuchi disease with facial rash and erythema multiforme. Pediatr Dermatol. Sep-Oct 2001;18(5):403-5. [Medline].

  12. Rao GS, Vohra D, Kuruvilla M. Is Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease a manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus?. Int J Dermatol. Apr 2006;45(4):454-6. [Medline].

  13. Roger M, Hopfner C, Loiselet G, Libbrecht E, Bressieux JM, Fur A. [Eyelid edema revealing Kikuchi's disease]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. Nov 1999;126(11):826-8. [Medline].

  14. Letawe C, Pierard-Franchimont C, Rustom KA, et al. [Cutaneous-lymph node Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. Jan 1999;126(1):26-8. [Medline].

  15. Kim HS, Oh ST. Kikuchi disease with transient eruption in a 7-year-old boy. Pediatr Dermatol. Jul-Aug 2007;24(4):459-60. [Medline].

  16. Huh J, Chi HS, Kim SS, Gong G. A study of the viral etiology of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease). J Korean Med Sci. Feb 1998;13(1):27-30. [Medline].

  17. Aqel N, Henry K, Woodrow D. Skin involvement in Kikuchi's disease: an immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence study. Virchows Arch. Apr 1997;430(4):349-52. [Medline].

  18. Jöhrens K, Anagnostopoulos I, Dürkop H, Stein H. Different T-bet expression patterns characterize particular reactive lymphoid tissue lesions. Histopathology. Mar 2006;48(4):343-52. [Medline].

  19. Eboriadou M, Tragiannidis A, Markou K, Athanassiadou F. Kikuchi-fujimoto disease associated with extreme leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in an adolescent boy. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. Dec 2007;29(12):864. [Medline].

  20. Kim CH, Hyun O J, Yoo IeR, Kim SH, Sohn HS, Chung SK. Kikuchi Disease Mimicking Malignant Lymphoma on FDG PET/CT. Clin Nucl Med. Sep 2007;32(9):711-2. [Medline].

  21. Yen HR, Lin PY, Chuang WY, Chang ML, Chiu CH. Skin manifestations of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: case report and review. Eur J Pediatr. Apr 2004;163(4-5):210-3. [Medline].

  22. Khan FY, Morad NA, Fawzy Z. Kikuchi's disease associated with hemophagocytosis. Chang Gung Med J. Jul-Aug 2007;30(4):370-3. [Medline].

  23. Bachi R. Kikuchi disease in a connective tissue disorder. Med J Malaysia. Sep 2002;57(3):357-60. [Medline].

  24. Goteri G, Filosa A, Pieramici T, Fioravanti P, Barocci G, Bearzi I. Cutaneous Kikuchi's disease: report of a new case and review of the literature. Histopathology. Sep 2004;45(3):300-1. [Medline].

  25. Kumaran MS, Dogra S, Saikia UN, Kanwar AJ. Kikuchi's disease with skin lesions in a patient with SLE. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Nov 2005;19(6):783-4. [Medline].

  26. Kuo TT. Cutaneous manifestation of Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. Am J Surg Pathol. Sep 1990;14(9):872-6. [Medline].

  27. Lopez C, Oliver M, Olavarria R, et al. Kikuchi-Fujimoto necrotizing lymphadenitis associated with cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a case report. Am J Dermatopathol. Aug 2000;22(4):328-33. [Medline].

  28. Spies J, Foucar K, Thompson CT, LeBoit PE. The histopathology of cutaneous lesions of Kikuchi's disease (necrotizing lymphadenitis): a report of five cases. Am J Surg Pathol. Sep 1999;23(9):1040-7. [Medline].

  29. Toll A, Gilaberte M, Matias-Guiu X, et al. Kikuchi's disease (necrotizing lymphadenitis) with cutaneous involvement associated with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Clin Exp Dermatol. May 2004;29(3):240-3. [Medline].

  30. Yasukawa K, Matsumura T, Sato-Matsumura KC, et al. Kikuchi''s disease and the skin: case report and review of the literature. Br J Dermatol. Apr 2001;144(4):885-9. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, HNL, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, KD, Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, necrotizing lymphadenitis, lymphadenitis showing focal reticulum cell hyperplasia with  nuclear debris and phagocytosis, cervical subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis, Kikuchi's disease

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, New York Medical College-Metropolitan Hospital; Private Practice
Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia, State University of New York at Stonybrook, Penn State University
Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Director, Division of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic; Director Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: 3M Pharmaceutical Grant/research funds Other; Graceway Pharmaceuticals Grant/research funds Other

Managing Editor

Jeffrey Meffert, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio
Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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.

 
 
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