Visceral involvement in an immunocompetent male : a rare presentation of cat scratch disease

• Published in: Netherlands journal of medicine Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 160 - 162
• Main Authors: VAN DER VEER-MEERKERK, M, VAN ZAANEN, H. C. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alphen aan den Rijn Van zuiden 01.04.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial diseases; Bartonella henselae - isolation & purification; Bartonellosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cat-Scratch Disease - diagnosis; Cat-Scratch Disease - etiology; Cat-Scratch Disease - physiopathology; General aspects; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunocompetence; Infectious diseases; Lymph Nodes - microbiology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Splenic Diseases - diagnosis; Splenic Diseases - microbiology; Splenic Diseases - pathology; Tropical bacterial diseases; Spleen; cat-scratch disease; visceral; Cat scratch disease; Male; Infection; Medicine; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Bartonellaceae; Bartonella henselae; Inaugural sign; Viscus
• ISSN: 0300-2977; 1872-9061

We report a case of an adult, immunocompetent male with lymphadenopathy of both groins, para-aortal lymph nodes and multiple lesions in the spleen. A neoplasm was excluded by histology of the largest lymph node from the left groin. The diagnosis of cat-scratch disease (CSD ) became apparent when serological testing for Bartonella henselae showed to be positive. A review of literature shows that disseminated (visceral) infection is a rare presentation of CSD.