title: Inguinal lymphadenopathy due to Bartonella henselae.
abstract: The bacterium Bartonella henselae causes cat scratch disease, a self-limited zoonotic disease which is common among children and adolescents. The most typical clinical presentation is a regional lymphadenopathy that commonly involves only a single node of cervical and axillary lymph nodes. Inguinal localization is rarely described. We report a case of a 35-year-old Caucasian male complaining of a painless right inguinal mass and slight fever. A diagnosis of Bartonella henselae infection was made according to the histopathological exam of the excised mass, that showed an inflammatory state likely due to Bartonella, and to the titre of antibodies for this agent. Cat scratch disease can occur at any age and may also involve inguinal lymph nodes. Therefore it should always be included in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy for adults. It is important that a meticulous personal history is obtained and that a specific serological test and pathological examination of the lesions are carried out. Often antibiotic treatment is not required because it is a benign disease and often resolves spontaneously.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Universita G d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ucciferri
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falasca
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Racciatti
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vecchiet
authors.forename: Eligio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pizzigallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018416:Bartonella henselae; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male