Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, benign, and self-limiting cause of lymphadenopathy that predominantly affects young women. Its clinical presentation often overlaps with infectious and malignant conditions, posing a significant diagnostic challenge. Although the exact etiology remains unclear, immune dysregulation triggered by infectious or autoimmune mechanisms has been proposed. We report the case of a young female who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy following a period of significant psychological stress. Histopathological examination of the lymph node revealed characteristic features of necrotizing lymphadenitis, including abundant karyorrhectic debris and histiocytic infiltration, thereby confirming the diagnosis of KFD. The patient was managed conservatively and achieved complete clinical recovery. This case highlights the importance of considering KFD in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy to avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment. Furthermore, it suggests a potential association between psychological stress and immune dysregulation, indicating a possible contributory role of stress in the pathogenesis of KFD.
Shanker et al. (Mon,) studied this question.