Cat-scratch disease presenting as a solitary tumour in the breast: report of three cases

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2003 Feb 10;106(2):175-8. doi: 10.1016/s0301-2115(02)00164-1.

Abstract

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) may appear as a solitary mass in the breast and give the impression of a breast carcinoma. In this case, further clinical and laboratory investigation is required to rule out malignancy. We present three cases of CSD of the breast in women of 64, 31 and 61 years old. Each presented with enlarged lymph-nodes in the breast, which were clinically mistaken for solitary tumours. In the first two patients, the mammography was negative. The third patient had a mammogram which indicated a well-defined solid mass in the parenchyma without calcifications. We discuss the clinical, histological and histochemical findings, analyze the differential diagnosis and review the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bartonella Infections / diagnosis*
  • Bartonella Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Bartonella Infections / pathology
  • Bartonella henselae
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / diagnosis*
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mammography
  • Middle Aged
  • Ultrasonography