Disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare Infection in an HIV-Negative, Nonimmunosuppressed Patient with Multiple Endobronchial Polyps

Abstract

Endobronchial lesions caused by nontuberculous mycobacterial disease are extremely rare, but we recently encountered a case of disseminated disease due to Mycobacterium intracellulare presenting as multiple endobronchial polypoid lesions in an HIV-negative host. The patient was a 45-year-old Japanese female with fever, loss of body weight and cervical lymphadenopathy. Chest X-rays demonstrated a left hilar mass, and bronchoscopy revealed multiple polypoid lesions in the left main bronchus and bronchus of the left upper lobe. The infection later progressed, involving generalized lymphadenopathy, liver splenic and cutaneous abscesses, pulmonary infiltration, pleural effusion, and costal fracture. Finally, in two separate cutaneous abscesses M. intracellulare was identified by a DNA probe method. Antimycobacterial drugs were given, and the endobronchial lesions along with other symptoms and signs greatly improved.