HISTIOCYTIC NECROTIZING LYMPHADENITIS IN BRAZIL - REPORT OF A CASE AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is rare outside Japan, including Brazil, despite the many Japanese immigrants and descendants who live there. The authors describe the case of a 32 year old white female, w ho presented with cervical lymph node enlargement and severe anemia. H istological findings of the lymph node were typical for Kikuchi's dise ase. Bone marrow showed hyperplasia of normoblasts, suggesting hemolys is, but a Coombs' test was negative. The patient had a spontaneous res olution of all symptoms and has remained asymptomatic for 3 years. Esp ecially where this disease is rarely reported, it is important to reco gnize it, in order to avoid a misdiagnosis of malignant lymphoma.