Subacute Necrotizing Lymphadenitis in a 3 Year-Old Male Child

ABSTRACT

Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign form of lymphadenitis that was first described in Japan by Kikuchi in 1972. It mainly affects young women and usually manifests as fever and lymphadenopathy. Although it is a benign self-limited lymphadenitis, it has been misdiagnosed as malignant lymphoma. Histologically, involved lymph nodes contain a necrotizing process characterized by patch, well-circumscribed area with eosinophilic fibrinoid material. There is a striking degree of karyorrhexis and an absence of granulocyte with paucity of plasma cell. We expereinced a case of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis in a 3 year old boy. There was spontaneous resolution of fever and lymphadenopathy, and now he keeps doing well.