Mycobacterium kansasii infections in patients with cancer (vol 30, pg 965,2000)

Mycobacterium kansasii was isolated from 25 patients with cancer who were c ared for at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) f rom January 1987 through December 1996, Two patients (8%) had disseminated disease, and 23 (92%) had pleuropulmonary isolates only. Signs and symptoms of mycobacterial infection at the time of diagnosis were often minimal or absent despite substantial radiographically evident involvement. The infect ions responded well to rifampin-based antimycobacterial regimens. M. kansas ii is an infrequent but serious cause of pulmonary and, occasionally, disse minated disease in patients with cancer.