Lymph node biopsy specimens and diagnosis of cat-scratch disease

Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Sep;12(9):1338-44. doi: 10.3201/eid1209.060122.

Abstract

We report microbiologic analysis of 786 lymph node biopsy specimens from patients with suspected cat-scratch disease (CSD). The specimens were examined by standard, cell culture, and molecular methods. Infectious agents were found in samples from 391 (49.7%) of 786 patients. The most commonly identified infectious agent was Bartonella henselae (245 patients, 31.2%), the agent of CSD. Mycobacteriosis was diagnosed in 54 patients (6.9%) by culture and retrospectively confirmed by using a specific real-time PCR assay. Neoplasm was diagnosed in 181 specimens suitable for histologic analysis (26.0%) from 47 patients. Moreover, 13 patients with confirmed Bartonella infections had concurrent mycobacteriosis (10 cases) or neoplasm (3 cases). A diagnosis of CSD does not eliminate a diagnosis of mycobacteriosis or neoplasm. Histologic analysis of lymph node biopsy specimens should be routinely performed because some patients might have a concurrent malignant disease or mycobacteriosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Bacteriological Techniques
  • Bartonella henselae / genetics
  • Bartonella henselae / isolation & purification
  • Biopsy
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / complications
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / diagnosis*
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / microbiology
  • Cats
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Culture Media
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymph Nodes / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium Infections / complications
  • Mycobacterium Infections / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S