Necrotising histiocytic lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease) is a recogni
sed cause of benign lymphadenopathy. It has been reported in associati
on with both adult Still's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
, and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). We report a case of mixe
d connective tissue disease (MCTD), in which biopsy of enlarged lymph
nodes occurring as a presenting feature showed the characteristic feat
ures of Kikuchi's disease. This finding supports the belief that Kikuc
hi's disease and the autoimmune rheumatic disorders may share a common
aetiology.