Two cases of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease) following diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Hum Pathol. 2000 Oct;31(10):1328-31. doi: 10.1053/hupa.2000.18504.

Abstract

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL) is often mistaken for malignant lymphoma clinically and is also sometimes difficult to differentiate from lymphoma even histopathologically. In this report, we describe the first 2 reported cases of HNL following non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The patients were 27- and 30-year-old women who developed cervical and axillary lymph node swellings, respectively, in the course of remission of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The affected lymph nodes showed the typical histology of HNL: irregular-shaped "necrotic" foci with histiocytes engulfing apoptotic bodies intermingled with large-sized blastic lymphocytes. These findings mimicked the partial involvement of large-cell lymphoma. However, the blastic cells were almost exclusively T cells, and numerous apoptotic bodies were present, which excluded the possibility of recurrence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • CD3 Complex / analysis
  • CD79 Antigens
  • Female
  • Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / etiology*
  • Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / complications*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / complications*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / analysis

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CD3 Complex
  • CD79 Antigens
  • CD79A protein, human
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell