Necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease). Report of four cases of an unusual pseudolymphomatous lesion and immunologic marker studies.

The clinical and histologic features of four cases of necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease), an unusual pseudolymphomatous lesion, are presented. Three patients were female and one was male. All were under 40 years of age. Cervical and juxtaparotid lymph nodes were affected. Immunological staining in two cases demonstrated a population of T cells and monocytes in the necrotic areas. Necrotizing lymphadenitis is a peculiar reactive condition with a predilection for cervical lymph nodes in young women. Although the histologic features may be confused with those of malignant lymphoma, to our knowledge the natural history has been benign in all cases to date.