title: Thoracic vertebral osteomyelitis with paraspinous mass and intraspinal extension: an atypical presentation of cat-scratch disease.
abstract: Children with cat-scratch disease (CSD) commonly present with fever and tender lymphadenopathy. The disease is mild and manifestations of infection resolve spontaneously within several weeks. However, some children with CSD have unusual features that present diagnostic challenges. Children with atypical CSD may present with prolonged fever, hepatosplenic disease or ocular disease. We performed an MRI on a child who presented with persistent back pain. The MRI demonstrated a paravertebral mass with intraspinous extension and the collapse of T7 vertebral body. A biopsy was reported to show a small round blue cell tumor. An evaluation for malignancy was negative, but Bartonella henselae DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction on the biopsy specimen. We present this case because it is a rare but important radiological presentation of CSD.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, 530 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61637, USA.
authors: Mohamad M
authors: MM
authors: Al-Rahawan
authors: Barry M
authors: BM
authors: Gray
authors: Craig S
authors: CS
authors: Mitchell
authors: Stephen D
authors: SD
authors: Smith
references: Adv Pediatr Infect Dis. 1993;8:1-21
references: 8216999
references: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 Sep;28(9):848-50
references: 19654566
references: J Infect. 2007 May;54(5):417-21
references: 17140668
references: Am J Dis Child. 1985 Nov;139(11):1124-33
references: 4061408
references: Eur J Pediatr. 2010 Sep;169(9):1105-11
references: 20339868
references: Pediatrics. 2008 May;121(5):e1413-25
references: 18443019