Fluorine-18 labeled fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography of cat scratch disease: a case report

Natural Cat scratch disease is caused by the infection of Bartonella henselae after a cat scratch, bite, or close contact, and mainly presents with skin lesions and swollen lymph nodes in the drainage area. Herein, we report a 71-year-old female cat scratch disease patient who initially presented with low fever and enlarged lymph nodes on the left side of her neck, who underwent fluorine-18 labeled fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for suspected lymphoma. As increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake can indicate inflammation or tumor, and lymph node enlargement accompanied by abnormal metabolism can mimic lymphoma or other diseases, the diagnosis of cat scratch disease is difficult. Its diagnosis should be indicated when unilateral lymphadenopathy is accompanied by abnormally high metabolic uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose.