Usefulness of ultrasonography in the study of superficial lymph nodes. A case of cat scratch disease

Abstract Ultrasonography is a wide spread, non-invasive and repeatable imaging methodology. It is able to evidence any type of lesion and to describe its extent, its site and its content. The ultrasound role in the diagnosis of a case of cat scratch disease in a 44 year old man is described. Symptoms included intermittent fever, pain and palpable tumefactions in right armpit and elbow. The patient underwent routine and lymphoadenopathy specific laboratory data. Ultrasound examination and echo-guided fine-needle biopsy of the evident lesions were performed. These exams, related to pathological clinical presentation, have shown a chronic granulomatous lymphadenopathy like cat scratch disease. This case provides further evidence that ultrasound procedures might play an important role in differential diagnosis of palpable lesions.