Atypical Presentation of Cat-Scratch Disease Mimicking Malignancy: A Case Report

Abstract

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection which primarily transmitted to humans through scratches, bites, or licks from infected cats. Even though CSD is generally a mild condition, atypical symptoms may appear and must be distinguished from other diseases. We encountered a 57-year-old woman who presented with intermittent pain in the right upper quadrant and epigastric part of the abdomen, and had lost 11 kg within a few months. She never had a cat and did not recall being scratched by a cat. Radiologic examinations strongly suggest a malignant bile duct tumor, thus liver resection was done. However, the result of histopathology was a CSD. At follow-up, the patient was stable and also showed improvement in her general condition. Hence, proper preoperative examinations of the patients are crucial in order to avoid excessive or inadequate treatment.