Cat-Scratch Disease: A Case Report

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is an infection caused by Bartonella henselae and is characterized by a chronic inflammation of the lymph nodes. A 34 year-old female patient presented to the General Surgery Clinic with the complaint of swelling in the supraclavicular area which had been present for the previous 2 months. A mass of approximately 3x1 cm in diameter was observed in the supraclavicular area during her physical examination. An excisional biopsy was performed and the histopathological examination revealed marked follicles in the germinal centers, some of which had granuloma structures consisting of histiocytic cells together with polymorphonuclear leucocytes and necrosis in their centers. This appearance was at first considered as consistent with CSD. In her medical history, it was learnt that the left hand of the patient had been scratched by a cat 2.5 months earlier. The patient was given azithromycin for 5 days. CSD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy for cases who have had previous contact with cats.