Tuberc Respir Dis.  2006 May;60(5):571-575.

Mycobacterium avium Infection Presenting as Endobronchial Lesions in an Immunocompetent Patient

• Lee JH
• Son KS
• Park JH
• Kim JC
• Lee HW
• Kim CH

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium has been traditionally described as an opportunistic organism that causes disseminated disease in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients and acts as a pulmonary pathogen in patients with underlying lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or previously treated tuberculosis. Infections caused by M. avium in immunocompetent hosts usually manifest as 2 distinct subtypes, the upper lobe cavitary form and the nodular bronchiectatic form. However endobronchial lesions due to M. avium infections in immunocompetent host are reasonably rare, and there are no reports of this condition in Korea. We report here a case of endobronchial lesions involved in an M. avium infection in an immunocompetent 21 year-old female patient with no preexisting lung disease.

Keyword

Mycobacterium avium; Endobronchial lesion; Immunocompetent host

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Korea
Lung Diseases
Mycobacterium avium*
Mycobacterium*
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Tuberculosis
Young Adult

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest radiograph at initial visit shows infiltrations with volume loss of the left lower lung(A). Bronchoscopy demonstrates narrowing of the left main bronchus with some white-yellowish materials covering distal bronchial mucosa(B).

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  Figure 2 After 3 months, progressive volume loss of the left lower lung is noted in chest radiograph(A). CT scan shows narrowing of left main bronchus and complete collapse of the left lower lobe(arrow) with left deviation of the mediastinum(B).

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  Figure 3 After 4 months, complete atelectasis of the left lung is seen in chest radiograph(A) and bronchoscopy demonstrates complete obstruction of the left main bronchus(B).

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