Kikuchi Disease With Skin Lesions Mimicking Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Kikuchi disease (Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis) is a systemic illness of unkown etiology. It is characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. The skin is the most frequently affected extranodal organ. Cutaneous Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease can mimic both clinically and histologically skin lesions in lupus erythematosus, a disorder with which it seems to be closely related. A close follow up is required as systemic lupus erythematosus development has been reported.Main observation: We report a case of a 23-year-old woman, who was admitted to our department with high fever, skin lesions and arthralgia. Scaly and erythematous plaques were noted on both cheeks and earlobes. In pads of feet and hands and periungual area, multiple purple papules with a perilesional erythematous halo were evident. A thoracoabdominal computed tomography scan revealed lateral cervical, mediastinal, paratracheal, subcarinal and submandibular lymphadenopathy. Excisional node biopsy was consisten with Kikuchi disease with skin involvement.Conclusion: It has to be kept in mind that Kikuchi disease is a differential diagnosis in case of fever, lymphadenopathy and lupus-like skin lesions. Skin lesions in this disease and may resemble clinically and histologically to those of subacute lupus erythematosus or systemic erythematosus lupus.