Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease) a clinicopathologic study of 9 cases.

The clinicopathological features of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis in 9 patients are described. This disease occurs predominantly in the second and third decades of life, and in our series, is slightly more common in males. The commonest presentation is lymph node enlargement. Fever is also common, and was the mode of presentation in two patients. Laboratory investigations are non-contributory, with only an occasional case showing leucopenia or a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The disease is self-limiting in all patients. The characteristic histological feature is the presence of pale nodules in the paracortex, consisting of a mixture of activated lymphoid cells, histiocytes and karyorrhectic debris. Granulocytes are strikingly absent.