FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION OF HISTIOCYTIC NECROTIZING LYMPHADENITIS (KIKUCHIS DISEASE)

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the lymph node was done in five patien ts with histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease). In four patients, the aspirates were found to have many small and large a typical lymphocytes, some reactive, phagocytic histiocytes, and intens e extracellular debris. Neutrophils, plasma cells, or multinucleated g iant cells were not seen. These cytologic findings were considered dia gnostic for Kikuchi's disease. In one patient, the aspirate did not sh ow significant histiocytosis or tissue necrosis and was considered non diagnostic. In patients with both typical clinical features and charac teristic cytologic findings in the lymph node aspirates, FNA of the ly mph node alone will suffice for diagnosis. In those patients with typi cal clinical features but nondiagnostic findings in the FNA aspirates, the diagnosis of Kikuchi's disease may have to be established either on repeated nodal FNA or on lymph node biopsy. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss. In c.