NK/T cell lymphoma developed during the follow up period of Kimura's disease

Ki Young Yang,; Seong Joon Koh,; Chul Woo Kim,; Inho Kim,; Sung-Soo Yoon,; Seonyang Park,; Byoung Kook Kim,

Korean J Med > Volume 73(6); 2007 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2007;73(6):656-660.

NK/T cell lymphoma developed during the follow up period of Kimura's disease

Ki Young Yang, Seong Joon Koh, Chul Woo Kim, Inho Kim, Sung-Soo Yoon, Seonyang Park, Byoung Kook Kim

경희대학교 의과대학 순환기내과학교실

증례 : Kimura 병 경과관찰 중 발생한 NK/T 세포 림프종 1예

양기영&#;고성준&#;김철우&#;김인호&#;윤성수&#;박선양&#;김병국, Seong Joon Koh, Chul Woo Kim, Inho Kim, Sung-Soo Yoon, Seonyang Park, Byoung Kook Kim

Abstract

Kimura's disease is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the lymphoid organs and this presents as painless nodules in the head and neck area. It occurs endemically in the Far East Asia and sporadically in the West. Its exact etiology is unknown and it has no potential to transform into malignant disease. However, it is often confused with malignant disease such as malignant lymphoma. We report a case of NK/T cell lymphoma patient who had Kimura's disease in the right thigh 3 years ago. She then suffered from sudden dyspnea. Radiological studies revealed multiple small nodules scattered in both lung fields. NK/T cell lymphoma was diagnosed by open lung biopsy. In addition, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected in the previous site of Kimura's disease and lung nodule by molecular pathologic examination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of NK/T cell lymphoma complicating Kimura's disease with coexisting chronic EBV infection.(Korean J Med 73:656-660, 2007)

Key Words: Kimura's disease, Epstein-Barr virus, NK/T cell lymphoma