Authors : Riti P Dixit, Sharma Bhawana S, Parekh Arohi P, Davda Mansi M, Chothani Kinalee P
DOI : 10.18231/j.achr.2019.044
Volume : 4
Issue : 3
Year : 2019
Page No : 234-238
Introduction: Kikuchi - Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis
is a benign, uncommon, self-limited disease of unknown etiology. Young females are primarily affected
and it manifests primarily as cervical lymphadenopathy with tenderness at times. Kikuchi and Fujimoto,
way back in 1972, reported it from Japan, independently and simultaneously, as a type of lymphadenitis
associated with numerous histiocytes and extensive nuclear debris. The present study aims to study the key
cytomorphological features of KFD along with its clinicopathological correlation.
Materials and Methods: This present study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital for a period of one
year. The cases that were diagnosed as KFD on Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and whose follow
up histopathology was confirmatory were included in the present study. Papanicolaou stain (PAP stain),
Hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E), and May-Grunwald Giemsa stain (MGG stain) was done on smears.
Following cytological features were evaluated; cellularity, crescentic histiocytes, plasmocytoid monocytes,
karyorrhectic debris and intra and extra cytoplasm apoptotic bodies.
Result: Females in the age group of 31-40 years were most commonly affected with cervical
lymphadenopathy as the presenting feature. The most common clinical diagnosis rendered by clinicians
was tuberculosis. Karyorrhexis, crescentic histiocytes and plasmacytoid monocytes were the key
cytological features.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes on the key cytological features of the rare entity of KFD and its
clinicopathological correlation. Knowledge and timely diagnosis of this rare entity avoids unnecessary
surgical intervention and helps in timely management.
Keywords: Cervical lymphadenopathy, Crescentic histiocytes, Karyorrhexis.