Kikuchi–Fujimoto Disease Presenting as Brachial Plexus Neuritis: A Case Report

Persistent cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy is a common occurrence encountered in clinics across Asian countries. The commonest presentation in young population is secondary to infections of which extrapulmonary tuberculosis tops the list. Occasionally, one encounters neoplastic lesions such as lymphomas.1 In adults, these aberrant swelling warrant exclusion of metastatic malignant disease. Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease (KFD) or subacute histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign, rare, self-limiting disease, which usually presents itself with cervical or axillary lymphadenopathy associated with fever.2 Initially described in Japan, KFD was first reported in 1972 independently by Kikuchi and Fujimoto et al. It has a higher prevalence among Asiatic individuals, often young adults younger than 30 years with a female preponderance (female-to-male ratio, 4:1)3 We describe the case of a middle aged Indian woman who presented with cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy due to KFD and its peculiar presentation as brachial plexus neuritis. Case Report