Imaging of Cat Scratch Disease

Abstract

Cat scratch disease is caused by the inoculation of Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative bacterium, by either a bite or a scratch from an insect or a cat, and it most frequently occurs in adolescence. Cat scratch disease most commonly presents with fever, headache, fatigue, and tender regional lymphadenopathy that subsides in several weeks, with or without antibiotics. However, in 5% to 10% of patients, cat scratch disease may disseminate to involve multiple organ systems and mimic more serious systemic conditions both clinically and radiologically, requiring a more in-depth investigation.1 This article presents the common and rare imaging features of regional and multiorgan cat scratch disease using a multimodality imaging approach. We highlight key characteristics so that they may become more recognizable to the radiologist.