IMPRINT CYTOLOGY OF CAT-SCRATCH DISEASE - A REPORT OF 8 CASES

The cytologic features of cat scratch disease (CSD) from eight cases i n imprint smears are presented. All patients were clinicopathologicall y diagnosed as CSD as follows: 1) a history of animal exposure was rec orded 2 to 4 weeks before lymphadenopathy; 2) the disease occurred in the autumn and winter months; 3) a characteristic histopathology in th e biopsied lymph node specimens was observed; and 4) Warthin-Starry si lver stain-positive bacteria were detected in four of the seven cases examined. The characteristic cytologic finding was the presence of con fluent epithelioid cells with nearby and central scattejng of neutroph ils against a background of polymorphic inflammatory cells. Furthermor e, a varying number of medium-sized to large lymphoid cells with an ap pearance suggestive of monocytoid B lymphocytes (MBLs) were noted to b e associated with the epithelioid cells. These cytologic findings clos ely paralleled the histologic patterns of epithelioid cell granulomas, with and without MBLs, which we have previously reported are probably associated with the disease.