MYCOBACTERIUM-XENOPI PULMONARY INFECTION - EVALUATION WITH CT

Purpose: Our goal was to describe the CT appearances of Mycobacterium xenopi pulmonary infection. Method: A retrospective study period of 75 months was used. Eight immunocompetent patients fulfilled the America n Thoracic Society criteria for M. xenopi infection and had CT scans o f the thorax. CT scans were reviewed by two observers, and decisions w ere reached by consensus. Results: Seven patients demonstrated upper l obe cavitary disease: one mass with cavity, one nodule with cavity, th ree consolidation with multiple cavities, and two cavities only. One p atient demonstrated upper lobe consolidation only. All patients demons trated adjacent lung architectural distortion indicating fibrosis and centrilobular nodules suggesting endobronchial spread of infection. Se ven patients had a clinical history of preexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that was confirmed by CT. Four patients demonstrate d adjacent pleural disease. Conclusion: M. xenopi pulmonary infection usually affects patients with preexisting pulmonary emphysema. It pred ominantly affects the upper lobes, usually with cavitary opacities and evidence of fibrosis and endobronchial spread of infection.