Kimura's disease: A diagnostic challenge experienced with cytology of postauricular swelling with histopathological relevance

• Main Authors: Mingma Sherpa, Rachna Lamichaney, Asitava Deb Roy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Journal of Cytology
• Subjects: Eosinophilia; fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC); Kimura's disease; lymphadenopathy; postauricular; reactive lymphadenitis
• Online Access: http://www.jcytol.org/article.asp?issn=0970-9371;year=2016;volume=33;issue=4;spage=232;epage=235;aulast=Sherpa

Kimura's disease is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause. It is endemic in Asia, affecting more number of males than females, with a ratio of 3:1. The typical clinical manifestations include a triad of painless unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy or subcutaneous masses predominantly in the head and neck region, blood and tissue eosinophilia, and an elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Variable conditions both benign and malignant may mimic Kimura's disease both clinically and on fine needle aspirates. The confirmatory diagnosis is established only by histopathological examination. We report a case of Kimura's disease in a patient who underwent multiple investigations in view of her past history and family history of pulmonary Koch's. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed thrice with consistently similar result of reactive lymphadenitis with numerous histiocytes and eosinophilia. The final diagnosis of Kimura's disease could finally be established only on histopathological examination.