Medical Care

Once the diagnosis of Kikuchi disease (KD) is established, no specific medical care is indicated because this is a self-limited condition. NSAIDs or systemic steroids can be used if symptoms are severe as these may aid resolution.^[35]Hydroxychloroquine is another option that has been effective in the treatment of KD.^[36]It may be an especially good option for cutaneous KD or KD associated with lupus erythematosus.^{[3, 14]}Hydroxychloroquine in combination with systemic steroids has also been used to successfully treat recurrent KD.^{[37, 38]}

Surgical Care

No surgical care is needed aside from 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.

Long-Term Monitoring

Long-term monitoring of patients with Kikuchi disease (KD) is required because KD carries a risk of progression to systemic and/or cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This risk ranges from 13-25% in the literature.^[39]Therefore, patients should be warned of symptoms to watch for and should continue to see doctors regularly.

Medication

Kikuchi M. Lymphadenitis showing focal reticulum cervical hyperplasia with nuclear debris and phagocytosis. Acta Hematol Jpn. 1972. 35:379-380.
Fujimoto Y, Kozima Y, Yamaguchi K. Cervical subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis: a new clinicopathologic entity. Naika. 1972. 20:920-27.
Dumas G, Prendki V, Haroche J, et al. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: retrospective study of 91 cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore). 2014 Nov. 93 (24):372-82. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Dorfman RF, Berry GJ. Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis: an analysis of 108 cases with emphasis on differential diagnosis. Semin Diagn Pathol. 1988 Nov. 5 (4):329-45. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
5. Kim KH, Jung SH, Park C, Choi IJ. Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis-a collective clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study. Yonsei Med J. 1992; 33:32–40. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lin HC, Su CY, Huang CC, Hwang CF, Chien CY. Kikuchi's disease: a review and analysis of 61 cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003 May. 128 (5):650-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Mathew LM, Kapila R, Schwartz RA. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a diagnostic dilemma. Int J Dermatol. 2016 Oct. 55 (10):1069-75. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Ruiz Beguerie J, Fernandez Penas P, Sharma R. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with cutaneous presentation in a patient with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Dermatol Online J. 2012 Sep 15. 18 (9):8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Perry AM, Choi SM. Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Review. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2018 Nov. 142 (11):1341-1346. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lopez C, Oliver M, Olavarria R, Sarabia MA, Chopite M. Kikuchi-Fujimoto necrotizing lymphadenitis associated with cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a case report. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000 Aug. 22 (4):328-33. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lecoules S, Michel M, Zarrouk V, Gaulard P, Schaeffer A, Godeau B. [Recurrent Kikuchi's disease in a patient with discoid lupus]. Rev Med Interne. 2003 Sep. 24 (9):613-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Silver SG, Hong HC, Ting PT, Ball NJ. Kikuchi-Fujimoto's necrotizing lymphadenitis in association with discoid lupus erthematosus: a case report. J Cutan Med Surg. 2004 Nov-Dec. 8 (6):442-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Paradela S, Lorenzo J, Martínez-Gómez W, Yebra-Pimentel T, Valbuena L, Fonseca E. Interface dermatitis in skin lesions of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease: a histopathological marker of evolution into systemic lupus erythematosus?. Lupus. 2008 Dec. 17 (12):1127-35. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Singh JM, Shermetaro CB. Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in Michigan: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature. Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat. 2019. 12:1179550619828680. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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. 2007 Sep. 20 (3):421-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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. 1998 Feb. 13 (1):27-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Aqel N, Henry K, Woodrow D. Skin involvement in Kikuchi's disease: an immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence study. Virchows Arch. 1997 Apr. 430 (4):349-52. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Moinet F, Molinié V, Béraud G, Polomat K, Cordel N, Sainte-Marie D, et al. Epidemiology and Characteristics of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in the African-Descent Population of Martinique, French West Indies. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016 Dec. 68 (12):1883-1887. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kuo TT. Cutaneous manifestation of Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. Am J Surg Pathol. 1990 Sep. 14 (9):872-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Jung IY, Ann HW, Kim JJ, Lee SJ, Kim J, Seong H, et al. The incidence and clinical characteristics by gender differences in patients with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar. 96 (11):e6332. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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. 2005 Jun. 24 (6):551-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Di Lernia V, Bajocchi G, Piana S. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus onset preceded by Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2014 Jan. 4 (1):47-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
DeFilipp Z. Cutaneous manifestation of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in the setting of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's). J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Sep. 27 (9):1220-2. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Atwater AR, Longley BJ, Aughenbaugh WD. Kikuchi's disease: case report and systematic review of cutaneous and histopathologic presentations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Jul. 59 (1):130-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Letawe C, Piérard-Franchimont C, Rustom KA, Hermanns-Lê T, Piérard GE. [Cutaneous-lymph node Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 1999 Jan. 126 (1):26-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kim KJ, Jee MS, Chang SE, Choi JH, Sung KJ, Moon KC, et al. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with papulopustular skin manifestations. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2003 Mar. 28 (2):142-4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Imai K, Yokozeki H, Nishioka K. Kikuchi's disease (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis) with cutaneous involvement. J Dermatol. 2002 Sep. 29 (9):587-92. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kaur S, Thami GP, Mohan H, Kanwar AJ. Kikuchi disease with facial rash and erythema multiforme. Pediatr Dermatol. 2001 Sep-Oct. 18 (5):403-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Rao GS, Vohra D, Kuruvilla M. Is Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease a manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus?. Int J Dermatol. 2006 Apr. 45 (4):454-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Roger M, Hopfner C, Loiselet G, Libbrecht E, Bressieux JM, Fur A. [Eyelid edema revealing Kikuchi's disease]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 1999 Nov. 126 (11):826-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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. 2007 Dec. 29 (12):864. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Shim EJ, Lee KM, Kim EJ, Kim HG, Jang JH. CT pattern analysis of necrotizing and nonnecrotizing lymph nodes in Kikuchi disease. PLoS One. 2017. 12 (7):e0181169. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Lima M, Silvestre F, Correia J, Oliveira J, Justiça B. Kikuchi's disease: a case report with emphasis on flow cytometric studies. Sangre (Barc). 1996 Oct. 41 (5):383-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kim JH, Kim YB, In SI, Kim YC, Han JH. The cutaneous lesions of Kikuchi's disease: a comprehensive analysis of 16 cases based on the clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence studies with an emphasis on the differential diagnosis. Hum Pathol. 2010 Sep. 41 (9):1245-54. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Khan FY, Morad NA, Fawzy Z. Kikuchi's disease associated with hemophagocytosis. Chang Gung Med J. 2007 Jul-Aug. 30 (4):370-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Chen PH, Huang YF, Tang CW, Wann SR, Chang HT. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: an amazing response to hydroxychloroquine. Eur J Pediatr. 2010 Dec. 169 (12):1557-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Honda F, Tsuboi H, Toko H, Ohyama A, Takahashi H, Abe S, et al. Recurrent Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Successfully Treated by the Concomitant Use of Hydroxychloroquine and Corticosteroids. Intern Med. 2017 Dec 15. 56 (24):3373-3377. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Castro Corredor D, de Lara Simón IM, Bellido Pastrana D. [Kikuchi disease: Evolution during outbreaks and its response to antimalarial treatment]. Rev Esp Patol. 2018 Jan - Mar. 51 (1):34-36. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Sopeña B, Rivera A, Vázquez-Triñanes C, Fluiters E, González-Carreró J, del Pozo M, et al. Autoimmune manifestations of Kikuchi disease. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Jun. 41 (6):900-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Media Gallery

Very high magnification micrograph of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, also known as Kikuchi disease. Hematoxylin and eosin stain. Courtesy of Nephron (own work), via Wikimedia Commons.

of 1

Author

Jenny E Liles, MD Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Loretta S Davis, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University

Loretta S Davis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

David F Butler, MD Former Section Chief of Dermatology, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System; Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Founding Chair, Department of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Phi Beta Kappa, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

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

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia School of Medicine; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, State University of New York at Stonybrook School of Medicine; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Shyam Verma, MBBS, DVD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Noah S Scheinfeld, JD, MD, FAAD † Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Weil Cornell Medical College; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Assistant Attending Dermatologist, New York Presbyterian Hospital; Assistant Attending Dermatologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, North Shore-LIJ Health System; Private Practice

Noah S Scheinfeld, JD, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Cutaneous Kikuchi Disease Treatment & Management

Medical Care

Surgical Care

Consultations

Long-Term Monitoring

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

What would you like to print?