Kikuchi's disease with systemic manifestations: a link to the Epstein-Barr virus

Bhargava P, Matthew P
Correspondence: Dr Pavan Bhargava, pavan_bhargava@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT
Kikuchi’s disease is a rare benign disease that presents with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. The importance of this disorder, lies in distinguishing it from more sinister disorders, such as lymphoma, in order to avoid unnecessary investigation and treatment. Systemic manifestations are rare in Kikuchi’s disease but are not unknown. We present two cases of varying degrees of systemic involvement due to Kikuchi’s disease. Both these patients, a 22-year-old woman and a 44-year-old woman, were also found to have evidence of recent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The evidence of a causative role for EBV in Kikuchi’s is also reviewed.

Keywords: cervical lymphadeopathy, Epstein-Barr virus, Kikuchi’s disease, necrotising histiocytic lymphadenitis
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(3): e110-e111