Cat Scratch Disease Involving the Superficial Parotid Node: Report of a Case

• Published in: Shika Hoshasen Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 121 - 127
• Main Authors: OKANO, Tomohiro, IKEDA, Shohei, KIMURA, Yukinori, SANO, Tsukasa, ARAKI, Kazuyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 2002; 特定非営利活動法人 日本歯科放射線学会
• Subjects: Cat scratch disease; Lymphadenitis; Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome; Superficial parotid node; パリノー眼腺症候群; リンパ節炎; 浅耳下腺リンパ節; 猫ひっかき病
• ISSN: 0389-9705; 2185-6311
• DOI: 10.11242/dentalradiology1960.42.121

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is an infectious disease that is characterized by tender regional chronic lymphadenopathy following a cat scratch or contact distal to the involved lymph node. The neck is the second most common location, with a distribution of over 26%. However, parotid node involvement occurs in only 6-8%. We describe an unusual case of parotid lymphadenopathy in this article. A 14-year-old-girl presented with a complaint of preauricular swelling persisting for a month. On CT and US, suppurative lymphadenitis was suspected between the masseter muscle and the parotid gland. US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed a small amount of pus. We speculate that this patient's disease may be CSD, based on previous clinical reports of CSD with Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome representing the preauricular lymphadenopathy. Thereafter, re-anamnesis and serological study confirmed CSD. The final diagnosis was a suppurative superficial parotid lymphadenitis due to CSD. In some patients showing involvement of the preauricular region, CSD should also be considered.