home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK03903}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Kikuchi's Disease}
- $Subject{Kikuchi's Disease Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis HNL
- Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Kikuchi's Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis
- Necrotizing Lymphadenitis Burkitt's Lymphoma Hodgkin Disease Malignant
- Lymphoma }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1992 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 861:
- Kikuchi's Disease
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Kikuchi's Disease) is
- not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the
- alternate name and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis
- HNL
- Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease
- Kikuchi's Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis
- Necrotizing Lymphadenitis
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Burkitt's Lymphoma
- Hodgkin Disease
- Malignant Lymphoma
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The Information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Kikuchi's Disease is a rare noncancerous disorder in which there are
- lesions that typically affect the lymph nodes in the neck of young adults.
- This disorder is often mistaken for malignant Lymphoma because the symptoms
- are very similar. The lesions, or tissue abnormalities in this disorder
- cause the lymph nodes to become enlarged, inflamed and painful. The exact
- cause of Kikuchi's Disease is not known.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Kikuchi's Disease is a rare nonmalignant disorder that affects the lymph
- nodes. The lymph nodes are small oval structures that filters lymph fluid
- that draws from organs and tissues, fight infection and form white blood
- cells and blood plasma cells. In Kikuchi's Disease lymph nodes on the side
- of the neck and near the salivary glands are affected.
-
- The lymph nodes may be swollen, hard, painful and tender. The patient
- may have a fever and pain in the area of the affected lymph nodes.
-
- The abnormal tissue growths and inflammation in Kikuchi's Disease
- normally clear up within a few weeks or months without treatment.
-
- Causes
-
- The exact cause of Kikuchi's Disease is not known. Many researchers suspect
- that a virus may cause this disorder.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Kikuchi's Disease is an extremely rare disease. There have been less than 50
- cases reported in the medical literature. This disorder particularly affects
- young adults. Kikuchi's Disease was originally identified in Japan in 1972.
-
- Kikuchi's Disease may be more prevalent than has been previously recorded
- due to the fact that swollen glands are fairly common and ignored by many
- people. Since this disorder can only be determined by a biopsy of the tissue
- in the affected lymph nodes, it may be overlooked by many unsuspecting
- patients.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Kikuchi's
- Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Burkitt's Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that affects the
- lymph nodes as well as other areas of the body. Tumors may occur in the
- kidneys, sex glands, jaw, bone marrow, or central nervous system as well as
- the lymph nodes. Burkitt's Lymphoma may be infectious. This disorder occurs
- often in children living in Central Africa, and is associated with the
- Epstein-Barr virus.
-
- Hodgkin's Disease is a form of cancer of the lymphatic system, especially
- the lymph nodes. Tumors occur in the lymph nodes. Fever, night sweats and
- weight loss may occur along with swollen lymph nodes. Examination of the
- affected lymph node tissue by a pathologist shows the presence of a type of
- cell called Reed-Sternberg cells. The exact cause of Hodgkin's Disease is
- not known. (For more information on this disorder choose "Hodgkin" as your
- search term in the Rare Disease Database).
-
- Malignant Lymphoma is a tumor of the lymphoid tissue that is cancerous.
- Lymphoid tissue contains a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte) in its
- spaces. The cell structure varies in the various types of lymphomas, but the
- effects of these tumors are usually similar. The appearance of large lymph
- nodes in the neck is usually followed by fever, weakness, weight loss and
- anemia. When there is widespread involvement of the lymphoid tissue, the
- spleen and liver may also enlarge.
-
- The following conditions have been associated with Kikuchi's Disease in
- some patients. They are not necessary for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Pancytopenia - a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells and
- platelets in the circulating blood.
-
- Splenomegaly - an abnormal enlargement of the spleen.
-
- Still's Disease - also called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or Rheumatic
- Arthritis, is a form of arthritis that usually affects the larger joints of
- children. It may also occur in adulthood. The patient may have a high
- intermittent fever, rash, inflammation of several thin sheets of tissue that
- line certain areas of the body (serous membranes), a disease process that
- affects the lymph nodes (Lymphadenopathy), enlargement of the liver and
- spleen, an abnormal increase in the number of circulating white blood cells
- (leukocytosis), and a decrease in red cells in the blood (anemia). This
- disorder is often mistaken for leukemia or an infection. (For more
- information on this disorder, please choose "Rheumatic Arthritis" as your
- search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment of Kikuchi's Disease is symptomatic and supportive. Usually the
- disorder resolves itself spontaneously within a few weeks or months.
-
- Kikuchi's Disease is diagnosed by removing tissue with a fine needle that is
- attached to a syringe. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to
- determine if the patient has the disease.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
- 1992. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
- entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
- check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
- information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Kikuchi's Disease, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5717
-
- References
-
- KIKUCHI-FUJIMOTO DISEASE MIMICKING MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA: G.A. Chamulak, et
- al., Am J Surg Pathol (June 1990, issue 14(6)). Pp. 514-23.
-
- NECROTIZING LYMPHADENITIS (KIKUCHI'S DISEASE). REPORT OF FOUR CASES OF
- AN UNUSUAL PSEUDOLYMPHOMATOUS LESION AND IMMUNOLOGIC MARKER STUDIES: P.D.
- Unger, et al.; Arch Pathol Lab Med (November 1987, issue 111(11)). Pp.
- 1031-4.
-
- CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS OF KIKUCHI'S HISTIOCYTIC NECROTIZING
- LYMPHADENITIS: T.T. Kuo; Am J Surg Pathol (September 1990, issue 14(9)).
- Pp. 872-6.
-
- KIKUCHI-FUJIMOTO DISEASE MIMICKING MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA: G.A. Chamulak, et
- al.; Am J Surg Pathol (June 1990, issue 14(6)). Pp. 514-23.
-
- NECROTISING LYMPHADENITIS WITHOUT GRANULOCYTIC INFILTRATION (KIKUCHI'S
- DISEASE): M.H. Ali, et al.; J Clin Pathol (November 1985, issue 38(11)).
- Pp. 1252-7.
-
-