J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1997 Dec;16(4):395-400.

Kikuchi Disease: Color Doppler Sonographic Findings

• Kim JE
• Na DG
• Lim HK
• Byun HS
• Son YI
• Lee JH

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate color Doppler sonographic findings of Kikuchi disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective review of color Doppler sonographic studies was performed in 14 lymph nodes of 12 patients with pathologically confirmed Kikuchi disease. In all cases, the nodal echogenicity, L/T (longitudinal/transverse) ratio, and hilar feature were evaluated on gray-scale sonography The nodal vascularity patterns were also analysed according to hilar, central, and peripheral vascularity. The highest resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured from spectral waveforms in 12 lymph nodes.
RESULTS
The lymph nodes were hypoechogenic in 9(64%) and isoechogenic in 5 (36%) of 14 nodes on gray scale sonogram and the echogenecity was homogeneous in 11 nodes and heterogeneous in 3 nodes. The L/T ratio was higher than 2.0 in 11 nodes and lower than 2.0 in 3 nodes. The hilar features of nodes were variable on gray scale sonograms. Color Doppler sonography demonstrated hilar vascularity in 11 (79%) nodes of 14 nodes and the patterns of central vascularity were symmetric radial (n=10, 72%), asymmetric multifocal (n=3, 21%) and absent (n=1, 7%). Peripheral vascularity was observed in 3 (21%) of 14 nodes. The mean RI and PI values of 12 nodes were 0.63 (0.44-0.76) and 0.92 (0.55-1.34), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Color Doppler sonographic findings of Kikuch disease provide additional diagnostic information of nodal vascularity and can be helpful in differentiating Kikuchi disease from malignant lymph node.

MeSH Terms

Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis*
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography*