Obstructive granulomatous bronchiolitis due to Mycobacterium avium complexin an immunocompetent man

While the development of pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium avium compl ex (MAC) infection is most commonly associated with underlying predisposing factors, this organism occasionally causes symptomatic disease in otherwis e normal individuals. Patients with MAC pulmonary disease most often presen t with cavitating granulomas, but a spectrum of pathologic changes has been described. The authors present a case of MAC pulmonary disease in an immun ocompetent, middle-aged man with no identified predisposing factors. The di agnostic biopsy disclosed the unusual finding of noncaseating granulomas wi th predominant involvement of bronchioles, corresponding to the patient's o bstructive and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Kar ger AG, Basel.