Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. A clinicopathological study.

Seven cases of Histiocytic necrotizing Lymphadenitis (HNL) were studied. They constituted 0.56% of all lymph nodes biopsies. The condition primarily affects young women causing cervical lymph node enlargement and leukopenia. The basic lesion is characterized by proliferation of lymphocytes and histiocytes with nuclear debris in the para cortex and cortex. This study examined various bacterial, viral and immunological factors which could possibly be responsible for this condition. However, it failed to find positive association with any of them. The existence of this disease in Pakistan is documented.