In
Italy, a 59-year-old woman had a mass in her right breast. An
ultrasound revealed an irregular breast mass as well as enlarged lymph
nodes, highly suggestive of breast
cancer. Biopsy and surgical excision didn't show any cancer cells,
however, but found inflammation and immune cells. Testing for pathogens,
including #Bartonella henselae, were all negative.
The patient told physicians that she had repeated contact with domestic
animals and had had a prior skin lesion on her chest. Five weeks after
biopsy, a serology test for Bartonella henselae was positive and the
patient was treated with antibiotics. The diagnosis? Cat scratch disease
(Bartonella henselae infection), not cancer. This article is free to
read:
Benign
lymphoreticulosis (cat scratch disease, CSD) may have a clinical course
that varies from the most common lymphadenitis localized in the site of
inoculation, preceded by the typical “primary lesion,” to a context of
severe systemic involvement. Among these uncommon clinical aspec...
hindawi.com
