Category: Histopathology

Kimura disease and Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) are often confused and need to be differentiated. Here are a few differences.

1.AGE

Kimura’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown cause that affects young to middle-aged patients, most often males of Asian descent. Whereas, ALHE is more common in females.

2.LOCATION

Kimura disease patients usually have a mass in the head and neck region with involvement of subcutaneous tissue, soft tissue, salivary glands, and single or multiple regional lymph nodes. ALHE also commonly involves the head and neck region, particularly behind the ears.

3.HISTOLOGY

Key histologic features of kimura disease includes florid follicular hyperplasia that may contain a proteinaceous precipitate (IgE in a follicular dendritic network pattern) and vascularization of the germinal centers. The interfollicular areas show prominent high endothelial venules with a mixture of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and mast cells. Follicle lysis is often present, and eosinophilic abscesses are characteristic within germinal centers as well as in the paracortex.

ALHE on the other hand, is a vascular neoplasm characterized by the proliferation of blood vessels lined by plump endothelial cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, imparting a hobnail appearance. This lesion is part of the spectrum of what have been called histiocytoid or epithelioid hemangiomas, and is a low-grade vascular tumor. There is a dense, mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils.

4. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

Reticular pattern of IgE is seen in KIMURA disease. However, immunohistochemistry in ALHE is positive for CD 31, CD 34 and Factor VIII in the vascular component.

5.PERIPHERAL BLOOD EOSINOPHILIA

Peripheral blood examination shows eosinophilia and increased serum IgE levels in kimura disease but not so much in ALHE.

FIND A QUICK SUMMARY BELOW

REVIEW QUESTION

1. A 20- year- old Asian male has eosinophilia and high levels of IgE with cervical lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy of the lymph node demonstrates follicular hyperplasia, intense eosinophilia and eosinophilic microabscesses. h e most likely diagnosis is:

A. Kimura disease

B. Kikuchi- Fujimoto disease

C. Eosinophilic leukemia

D. Hypereosinophilic syndrome

2. All are true about kimura disease except

A. Affects asians

B. Affects females

C. Peripheral eosinophilia is present

D. Elevated levels of IgE are seen