Lymphedema secondary to bartonellosis as a differential diagnosis of breast cancer

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29289/2594539420220014

Keywords:

bartonella henselae, cat-scratch disease, lymphedema, breast neoplasms, lymphadenopathy

Abstract

ABSTRACT

In the presence of unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy associated with a breast radiological finding, breast cancer should constitute the main differential diagnosis. This fact is intensified when there is associated lymphedema. We present a case of a patient in these conditions, for whom breast cancer was not confirmed, and a subsequent evaluation showed that it was cat-scratch disease. This report constitutes the second case of association between lymphedema and bartollenosis.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Faggion PC, Petrelli A, Reis FRS. Alterações na região Axilar. In: Urban LABD, Chala LF, Mello GGN, editors. Mama. Série Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem. São Paulo: Elsevier; 2020.

2. Ferrer R. Lymphadenopathy: differential diagnosis and evaluation. Am Fam Physician. 1998;58(6):1313-20. PMID: 9803196

3. Bazemore AW, Smucker DR. Lymphadenopathy and malignancy. Am Fam Physician. 2002;66(11):2103-10. PMID: 12484692

4. Vieira RA, Costa AM, Souza JL, Coelho RR, Oliveira CZ, Sarri AJ, et al. Risk Factors for Arm Lymphedema in a Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients Followed up for 10 Years. Breast Care (Basel). 2016;11(1):45-50. https://doi.org/10.1159/000442489

5. Jensen WA, Fall MZ, Rooney J, Kordick DL, Breitschwerdt EB. Rapid identification and differentiation of Bartonella species using a single-step PCR assay. J Clin Microbiol. 2000;38(5):1717-22. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.38.5.1717-1722.2000

6. Dhal U, Hicklen RS, Tarrand J, Kontoyiannis DP. Cat Scratch Disease as a Mimicker of Malignancy. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021;8(11):ofab500. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofab500

7. Marques LC, Pincerato K, Yoshimura AA, Andrade FEM, Barros ACSD. Cat scratch disease presenting as axillary lymphadenopathy and a palpable benign mammary nodule mimicking a carcinoma. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2018;51(2):247-8. https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0362-2016

8. Povoski SP, Spigos DG, Marsh WL. An unusual case of cat-scratch disease from Bartonella quintana mimicking inflammatory breast cancer in a 50-year-old woman. Breast J. 2003;9(6):497-500. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-4741.2003.09615.x

9. Dwan D, Baker CM, Zhang SC, Black CC, Zuurbier RA, diFlorio-Alexander RM. Atypical cat-scratch disease: a radiology-pathology correlation. Breast J. 2020;26(4):786-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbj.13581.

10. Lin MV, Nguyen NT, Qian YW, Phan VT, Nguyen QD. Cat scratch disease is an entity often diagnosed in breast imaging department during axillary lymph node assessment. Cureus. 2020;12(7):e9272. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9272

11. Ofri A, Moore K. Occult breast cancer: where are we at? Breast. 2020;54:211-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2020.10.012

12. Filler RM, Shwachman H, Edwards EA. Lymphedema After Cat-Scratch Fever. N Engl J Med. 1964;270:244-5. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM196401302700508

13. Mazur-Melewska K, Mania A, Kemnitz P, Figlerowicz M, Służewski W. Cat-scratch disease: a wide spectrum of clinical pictures. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2015;32(3):216-20. https://doi.org/10.5114/pdia.2014.44014

14. Mazurek Ł, Winiarczyk S, Adaszek Ł. Feline bartonellosis key issues and possible vectors. Ann Parasitol. 2018;64(4):309-15. https://doi.org/10.17420/ap6404.165

15. Baranowski K, Huang B. Cat Scratch Disease. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2022. PMID: 29489252

Downloads

Published

2026-04-17

How to Cite

Fonseca, A. C. M. M. da, Mello, B. L. G. de, Falcão Junior, P. C., Oliveira Filho, L. C. N. de, Silveira, H. de C., Oliveira, L. C. N. de, … Vieiria, R. A. da C. (2026). Lymphedema secondary to bartonellosis as a differential diagnosis of breast cancer. Mastology, 32. https://doi.org/10.29289/2594539420220014

Issue

Section

Case Reports