ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kimura's disease is a rare, allergic, inflammatory disorder of unknown cause. Patients often present nontender subcutaneous swelling in the head and neck region. Lymphadenopathy, peripheral eosinophilia, and an elevated serum IgE are also present. Kimura's disease is easily mistaken for malignant tumor, and has been confused with angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE). The diagnosis is confirmed by a biopsy. Treatment options range from observation to surgical excision, steroid therapy, and radiotherapy. We summarize characteristics of clinical feature, laboratory results in six cases of Kimura's disease and report the results of treatment, including surgery and steroid therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Between May 1999 and August 2003, six cases were diagnosized as Kimura's disease at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the Inha University. Six cases included four males and two females, with the mean age of 47.3 years. Preoperative evaluation included CT or MRI, CBC, and urine analysis. The study was done retrospectively. RESULT: Primary sites were two parotid glands, one submandibular gland, two neck lymph nodes, one scalp and cheek. Complete excision with steroid therapy was done in all cases. Five cases had peripheral eosinophilia. All cases reveal renal involvement, postsurgical complication or recurrence. CONCLUSION: Steroid therapy following surgical excision is the treatment of choice for definitive diagnosis and initial management. Kimura's disease must be included in the differential diagnosis of unusual head and neck mass because Kimura's disease is an unusual condition and it imitates the neoplastic or imflammatory condition in the head and neck.