Submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment caused by cat scratch disease.

PURPOSE: To present submacular exudates as a manifestation of cat scratch disease.

METHODS

Report of two cases.

RESULTS

The first patient, a 34-year-old man, developed submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment ten days after having axillary lymphadenopathy and fever. The second patient, a 30-year-old woman, developed submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment mimicking central serous chorioretinopathy. Fluorescein angiography revealed late staining of the subretinal lesions in both cases. The lesion resolved spontaneously in the first patient, while sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was required for the second patient. Both patients had a positive IgG titer for Bartonella henselae.

CONCLUSIONS

Submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment can occur in cat scratch disease. Cat scratch disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of submacular exudates with central serous chorioretinopathy.