Tumoral form of cat-scratch disease.

Background. - A frequent cause of chronic benign lymphadenopathy, cat-scrat ch disease (CSD) occurs mainly in children and young adults. Bartonella hen selae is the agent responsible for CSD. The most common symptoms of the dis ease are regional lymphadenopathy and fever. Atypical forms occur in about 10% of patients; among them, CSD may initially present as a tumor. Case report -A 4-year-old child developed a 'tumor' of the arm with fever. The values of white blood cell count and CRP were normal. Ultrasonography, MRI and arteriography did not contribute to the diagnosis, which was establ ished on histologic examination and serologic test for infection with B. he nselae. The outcome was favorable with antibiotic treatment. Conclusion. - In case of tumor of the limbs, cat-scratch disease should be searched for. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.