PULMONARY MANIFESTATIONS OF NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIUM

Thoracic nontuberculous or atypical mycobacterial infections typically occur in patients who have underlying lung disease or an immunologic abnormality. These infections are usually indolent and the diagnosis i s often difficult to establish and, even if confirmed, is of questiona ble clinical significance. The most common radiologic pattern is fibro nodular opacities in the upper lobes similar to those seen with tuberc ulosis. Less commonly, patients may have scattered nodularity associat ed with bronchiectasis. If suspected by radiologic and clinical findin gs, culture should be obtained for diagnosis. This review focuses on n ontuberculous mycobacterial disease in the thorax of the immunocompete nt host.