title: Utility of MR imaging in cat-scratch neuroretinitis.
abstract: About 80% of cat-scratch disease (CSD) infections occur in children, and CSD neuroretinitis (optic neuropathy with retinal exudates in a "macular star" pattern) mostly occurs in children and young adults. A recent study suggested that CSD optic neuropathy has specific features on MR imaging. However, MR imaging findings in CSD neuroretinitis are not well described in the pediatric literature. We present a patient with CSD neuroretinitis in whom these specific MR imaging features preceded the macular star, a funduscopic finding strongly suggestive of neuroretinitis. This case demonstrates how knowledge of these features is important in the appropriate diagnostic work-up of optic neuropathy. MR imaging also incidentally revealed neuritis of another cranial nerve in the auditory canal-a rare manifestation of CSD.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Morriss
authors.forename: Greg I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Ostrow
authors.forename: Merrill
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stass-Isern
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Olitsky
authors.forename: Lisa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D018416:Bartonella henselae; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012173:Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*