Unidirectional axillary lymph node swelling in a 31-year-old woman

Background: Swelling in the lymph nodes leads one to think at first in terms of diagnostic differentials such as local inflammation, tumor metastases, or lymphomas. Kikuchi-Fujimoto lymphadenitis is a rare cause of feverish lymphadenitis. Case Report: A 31-year-old woman was admitted with painful axillary feverish swelling of the lymph nodes. There had been no previous illnesses and in the case history of her mother, a mammary carcinoma could be found. Ultrasonic and MRI tests showed the lymph node conglomerate to be located in the left axilla. Laboratory tests revealed a constellation of inflammation with lymphomonocytosis. Serologic tests for viral causes were negative. A necrotizing lymphadenitis of the Kikuchi-Fujimoto type was described in the histological reclamation of a lymph node. Within 2 weeks, spontaneous regression of the feverish lymphadenitis occurred. Conclusions: In cases of unclear lymphadenitis, an attempt at achieving histological reclamation of a lymph node is desirable in order to realize rare differential diagnoses such as Kikuchi-Fujimoto lymphadenitis.