Kikuchi's lymphadenitis

Kikuchi's lymphadenitis

[kēko̅o̅′chēz]

Etymology: M. Kikuchi, Japanese pathologist, 20th century

a benign, self-limited syndrome of lymphadenopathy, usually in the neck, with a female predominance. Characteristics include patchy necrotizing lesions of the paracortex and proliferation of distinctive histiocytes, plasmacytoid monocytes, and lymphoblasts surrounded by karyorrhectic debris. Some consider it a self-limited form of systemic lupus erythematosus. Also called histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, Kikuchi's disease, subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis. See also systemic lupus erythematosus.