Cat-scratch disease, a manifestation of bartonellosis, is a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by the Bartonella henselae microorganism. It is typically elicited by ...×ArticlesLogInCasesSignUpCoursesQuizBlogDonateAbout×MenuSearchADVERTISEMENT:Radiopaediaisfreethankstooursupportersandadvertisers.BecomeaGoldSupporterandseenoads.ArticlesCasesCoursesLogInLoginSignup{"url":"/signup-modal-props.json?lang=us\u0026email="}ArticlesCasesCoursesQuizAboutBlogGoad-freeSearchCat-scratchdiseaseDrBalintBotz◉etal.Cat-scratchdisease,amanifestationofbartonellosis, isazoonoticbacterialinfectioncausedbytheBartonellahenselaemicroorganism.Itistypicallyelicitedbyascratchofacat. Onthispage:Article:ClinicalpresentationPathologyRadiographicfeaturesTreatmentandprognosisReferencesImages:CasesandfiguresClinicalpresentationThediseasehasavaryingclinicalpicturerangingbetweenlocalizedlymphadenitisandsystemicinfection.Duetotheslowcourse,non-specificsymptoms,andinsidiousonset,radiologyoftenplaysanimportantroleinsuggestingthediagnosis.Theinjuryleadingtoinfectionistypicallyaverysuperficialscratch,whichoftenhealsbeforethepatientpresentswiththedisease1,2.Initialsystemicsymptomsareusuallymildandnon-specific(malaise,sorethroat,aches,weightloss,headache,nausea,vomiting)3. Majorformsofbartonellosis:themostcommonform(90%)ofcat-scratchdiseaseisapainfulregionallymphadenopathywhichfirstoccursadjacenttotheentrypointoftheinfectionthelymphnodesoftheupperextremity,axilla,headandneckareaffectedmostcommonly,whichreflectsthatmostcatscratchesoccuronthehand1-3 disseminatedinfectionoccursin5-10%ofcases,manifestingasmultiplegranulomas(particularlyintheliverandspleen);bonelesionsmayalsodevelopinboththeaxialskeletonandextremities in2-4%ofpatientsneurologiccomplicationsalsooccur,rangingbetweenencephalitis,transversemyelitis,polyneuritis,andneuroretinitis1,2 inpatientswithacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome(AIDS), BartonellahenselaecancausebacillaryangiomatosisPathologyBartonellahenselae isfacultativeintracellular,Gram-negativeb