Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, a rare cause of lymphadenopathy in Africa. Description of the first case in Senegal and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a benign disease most commonly affecting adult females. It generally presents in the form of febrile cervical lymphadenopathy. This diagnosis must be considered in the setting of tropical medicine, dominated by a high prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis and haematological malignancies.

Case report: The authors report the case of a 33-year-old Senegalese woman who presented with subacute cervical lymphadenopathy associated with fever and laboratory signs of inflammation. Serological and tuberculosis screening tests were negative. Histopathological examination of a lymph node biopsy, following failure of nonspecific antibiotic therapy, concluded on a diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. A favourable course was observed in response to corticosteroid therapy.

Conclusion: In Sub-Saharan Africa, the association of polyadenitis and febrile syndrome, after excluding tuberculosis and lymphomas, must raise the suspicion of rare diseases such as Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.

Keywords: Cervical lymphadenopathy; Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis; Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease; Sub-Saharan Africa.