Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in patients with cat-scratch disease.
OBJECTIVE
Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy images various neoplastic, granulomatous, and auto-immune diseases. Cat-scratch disease in an infectious granulomatous disease usually affecting the lymphnodes. It is not known whether cat-scratch disease provides positive somatostatin receptor scintigrams.


METHODS
Twelve patients with lymphadenitis and suspected cat-scratch disease were investigated by immunofluorescence antibody testing and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. Suppurated lymphnodes were extracted or drained and Bartonella henselae specific PCR was then performed.


RESULTS
Eleven of 12 patients showed IgG antibodies against B. henselae. SRS showed positive scintigraphic results in 6 of 11 patients with CSD. B. henselae DNA was detected in tissue of lymphnodes from 4 of 5 patients with lymphnode extraction or lymphnode drainage. SRS demonstrated positive scintigrams in all patients with a positive PCR. In one patient with suspected CSD SRS was negative as well as antibody testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy correlated with positive Bartonella henselae specific PCR tests and positive Bartonella henselae specific antibody tests in patients with CSD.
Krause
R
R
Department of Medicine, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria. robert.krause@meduni-graz.at
Piswanger-Soelkner
C
C
Lipp
R W
RW
Daxböck
F
F
Schnedl
W J
WJ
Hoier
S
S
Reisinger
E C
EC
D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D006801:Humans; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000009:adverse effects
D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin