Beyond the Usual Suspects: A Diagnostic Challenge of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in a Young Male

Abstract

Kikuchi Fujimoto Disease (KFD) is a rare disorder characterized by histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis with clinical presentation mimicking other diseases. We present a 15-year-old young boy presented with unremitting fever, erythematous rash and inguinal lymphadenopathy. On physical examination, he also had splenomegaly. On further history, the patient did not have any infective or autoimmune symptoms with no positive family history of cancer. His travel, medication and drug histories were also non-significant making a diagnostic conundrum. The initial investigations done narrows it on either lymphoma or an occult sepsis since hyperleukocytosis and increased inflammatory markers were noted. However, after an extensive workup and multidisciplinary input, with the help of histopathological examination of the inguinal lymph node tissue, the diagnosis of KFD was able to achieve. Here, we present a case with this condition highlighting the challenges faced throughout the process of diagnosis and the importance of recognizing this rare disease as well as the detailed diagnostic approach.