Kimura's disease - Diagnosis by aspiration cytology

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the cytologic features of Kimura's disease and distinguish the differentiating features from those of other conditions with similar cytologic findings. STUDY DESIGN: In eight cases of Kimura's disease the cytologic features were correlated with the histologic findings. RESULTS: The cytologic features included a polymorphous lymphoid population with an admixture of significant numbers of eosinophils, fragments of collagenous tissue, endothelial cells and occasional polykaryocytes. CONCLUSION: Various conditions, both benign and malignant, may mimic Kimura's disease clinically and on smears, These have to be ruled out before making a diagnosis of Kimura's disease. The cytologic features of Kimura's disease have to be interpreted in the appropriate clinical setting in order to make a correct preoperative diagnosis.