Kikuchi Disease (Histiocytic Necrotizing Lympadenitis)

Biopsy should be considered, despite the self-limited nature, in order to exclude more serious conditions, such as:

• Infectious mononucleosis
• Tuberculous lymphadenitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Malignancy

Biopsy, however, may still leave some uncertainty between Kikuchi disease and SLE because of similarities in the pathology.  

No effective treatment has been established for Kikuchi disease.

Patients with severe symptoms may be treated with glucocorticoids only after other serious conditions have been excluded.