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N Engl J Med 2018 Dec;379(26):2558-2565

From the Departments of Medicine (J.E.M., C.J.R.), Radiology (J.S.H.), and Pathology (L.P.H.), Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Departments of Medicine (J.E.M., C.J.R.), Radiology (J.S.H.), and Pathology (L.P.H.), Harvard Medical School - both in Boston.

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Dec 14;18(1):659. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Département des Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103, Grande-Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317, cedex 04, Lyon, France.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung diseases are increasingly recognized as chronic opportunistic infections, occurring in individuals with a wide variety of underlying conditions. In the absence of systemic immunodeficiency, decision of NTM lung disease treatment must relies on a careful risk/benefit assessment, given the requirement of long-term administration of multidrug therapies supported by limited evidence. The primary objective was to identify the factors associated with anti-NTM treatment initiation. Read More

Infection 2018 Dec 8;46(6):861-865. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

The radiologic surveillance of smokers with low-dose CT scan has led to a significant surge of radiologic incidental findings, including the detection of early stages of pulmonary infections including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). This causes a state of overdiagnosis and potential overtreatment of NTM lung disease. Here we propose a new approach to NTM pulmonary disease in the era of increased CT scanning. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Sep 10;18(1):700. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Institute for Epidemiology, University Medical Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (Member of the German Center for Lung Research [ARCN]), Kiel, Germany.

Background: Management of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTMLD) consists of a long-term multi-drug antibiotic regimen, yet many patients do not achieve culture conversion. We estimated the NTMLD-related direct medical costs in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK) among refractory patients who were infected with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), without concomitant cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, or HIV.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational physician survey of nationally representative samples. Read More

Respir Med 2018 09 9;142:1-6. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada. Electronic address:

Background And Objectives: Lung resection in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is considered when medical therapy alone fails to provide long term control. Data regarding comparative and long-term outcomes are limited. We aimed to review indications and outcomes of adjuvant lung resection for NTM-PD compared with controls. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2018 Aug 31;18(1):145. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease has conventionally been classified on the basis of radiology into fibrocavitary and nodular-bronchiectatic disease. Whilst being of great clinical utility, this may not capture the full spectrum of radiological appearances present. The aim of this study was to use latent class analysis (LCA) as an unbiased method of grouping subjects with NTM-pulmonary disease based on their CT features and to compare the clinical characteristics of these groups. Read More

J Thorac Imaging 2018 Sep;33(5):334-343

Pulmonary Section, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Chronic cavitary lung disease is an uncommon manifestation of pulmonary infection, and is a pattern which worldwide is most commonly caused by reactivation tuberculosis. Other organisms, however, can cause similar radiologic patterns. Endemic fungi have long been recognized as potential causes of this pattern in North and South America, but the frequency with which these diseases present with chronic cavities in North America is relatively small. Read More

J Thorac Imaging 2018 Sep;33(5):322-333

Pulmonary Section, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Lung cavitation may be due to infectious or noninfectious pathologic processes. The latter category includes nonmalignant conditions, such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and malignant conditions, such as squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Infectious etiologies that produce lung cavitation usually cause chronic illness, although some, particularly pyogenic bacteria, may produce acute cavitary disease. Read More

Respir Med 2018 06 9;139:91-100. Epub 2018 May 9.

Department of Applied Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

Background: Studies concerning sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory features of Mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary disease are few and based on small patient cohorts. The objective of the study was to evaluate characteristics of patients from whom M. kansasii respiratory isolates were recovered and to provide a detailed description of M. Read More

Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Apr;17(2):100-109

Cell and Molecular Biology Group, Airways Disease Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are categorized as one of the large and diverse groups of environmental organisms which are abundant in water and soil.  NTM cause a variety of diseases in humans that mainly affect the lung. A predisposition to pulmonary NTM is evident in patients with parenchymal structural diseases including bronchiectasis, emphysema, tuberculosis (TB), cystic fibrosis (CF), rheumatologic lung diseases and other chronic diseases with pulmonary manifestations. Read More

Int J Surg Pathol 2018 Oct 2;26(7):629-634. Epub 2018 May 2.

1 Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine and Associated Regional and University Pathologists Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumor (MSP) is a rare benign spindle cell lesion containing acid-fact mycobacteria. These lesions are most commonly identified in the lymph nodes, skin, spleen, or bone marrow of immunocompromised patients and only rarely involve the lungs. We report 3 cases of pulmonary MSP, which include 2 patients who are known to be HIV-positive. Read More

Adv Respir Med 2018 ;86(1):17-22

Instytut Grużicy i Chorób Płuc, UL. Płocka 26, 01-138 Warszawa, Poland.

Mycobacterial lung disease is caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), also known as atypical mycobacteria. NTM are widely distributed in the environment, particularly in soil and water; they may colonize the airways, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system, without the apparent signs of disease. Nevertheless, in some risk groups such as patients with chronic lung diseases or with immunodeficiency, mycobacterial lung disease is identified. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Feb 8;2018. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Respiratory Medicine, Kurobe City Hospital, Kurobe, Japan.

We report two cases of pleurisy caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria followed by pneumothorax. The onset of pleurisy was accompanied by acute fever. Cultured samples of the pleural effusions from the two patients, an 80-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman, were ultimately found to contain and , respectively. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Feb 2;2018. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Occupational Health Services, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.

We present the case of a 69-year-old man with significant respiratory comorbidities who presented with slow growing pulmonary nodules which cavitated. Subsequent sputum sampling grew , a non-tuberculous mycobacterium species and an uncommon cause of infection in the UK. We describe the diagnostic process and subsequent treatment regimen. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2018 Jun 1;24(6):483-486. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.

Pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium heckeshornense (M. heckeshornense) in healthy adults without underlying diseases is very rare and optimal treatments have not yet been established. A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for further examinations following the identification of a pulmonary cavitary nodule. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2018 Jun 5;24(6):671-672. Epub 2018 Jan 5.

Respiratory Disease Centre, Fukujuji Hospital, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan.

J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect 2017 14;7(6):372-377. Epub 2017 Dec 14.

Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

: () has low pathogenicity and usually requires either host immune impairment or structural lung disease to cause clinical disease. Fatal cavitary infection in a patient without immunosuppression is rarely presented. : A 62-year-old female with history of sarcoidosis and hypertension presented with cough, fever and dyspnea for one week. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 01 2;18(1). Epub 2018 Jan 2.

Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.

Background: Presence of Mycobacterium fortuitum in respiratory tracts usually indicates mere colonization or transient infection, whereas true pulmonary infection occurs in patients with gastroesophageal disease. However, little is known about the diagnostic indications for true M. fortuitum pulmonary infection and the natural history of the disease. Read More

Intern Med 2018 Apr 21;57(7):997-1002. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

M. abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) and is the most common cause of pulmonary RGM infection. M. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2017 Dec 13;17(1):198. Epub 2017 Dec 13.

Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.

Background: In bronchiectasis patients, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection has been associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQL), but little is known about Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MACLD) patients in this context. This study aimed to evaluate HRQL and investigate the impact of chronic PA infection in MACLD patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Registry of Prospective Cohort Study including MACLD patients. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2018 Feb 7;67:65-69. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Mycobacterium lentiflavum is a slow-growing non-tuberculous Mycobacterium that is often associated with an immunocompromised state and cervical lymphadenitis in young children. However, little is known about the clinical importance of pulmonary infection with M. lentiflavum in adults. Read More

Int J Mycobacteriol 2017 Oct-Dec;6(4):401-403

Clinical Consultant, Chest Diseases and TB, Larsen and Toubro Ltd., Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Improved molecular diagnostic techniques have resulted in increased reporting of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. A 40-year-old male immunocompetent individual presented with cough and fever of 2-week duration. His chest X-ray showed cavities in the left upper zone and fibrosis in the right upper zone. Read More

PLoS One 2017 23;12(10):e0186826. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Okinawa Chubu Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease is increasing globally. Although the etiological epidemiology of NTM is different across regions, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the leading cause of NTM lung disease in most countries, including mainland Japan. Okinawa is located in the southernmost region of Japan and is the only prefecture categorized as a subtropical region in Japan, it is therefore likely the etiological epidemiology of NTM lung disease is different from mainland Japan. Read More

Arch Bronconeumol 2018 Mar 18;54(3):161-163. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hikone Municipal Hospital, Japan.

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2018 02;58(2):241-252

1 Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The incidence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease is increasing, but host responses in respiratory epithelium infected with NTM are not fully understood. In this work, we aimed to identify infection-relevant gene expression signatures of NTM infection of the respiratory epithelium. We infected air-liquid interface (ALI) primary respiratory epithelial cell cultures with Mycobacterium avium subsp. Read More

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2017 10;21(10):1169-1175

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam.

Background: The nodular bronchiectatic (NB) form of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease usually involves the right middle lobe (RML) and the left upper lobe lingular segment. However, the reason underlying this preference is not known.

Methods: Fifty patients with NB NTM lung disease who had both positive NTM culture(s) and NB lesions in the RML or lingular segment on computed tomography (CT) of the chest, and 100 healthy subjects matched for sex, age, height and body weight with normal chest CT, were randomly selected. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2017 Aug 28;11(1):240. Epub 2017 Aug 28.

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Road NE, The Emory Clinic, Building A - Suite 3244, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.

Background: Lung transplantation remains an important potential therapeutic option for end-stage lung disease. It can improve quality of life and in some cases be a life-lengthening therapy. Despite the possible benefits, there are also many potential complications following transplantation. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2017 08 9;17(1):558. Epub 2017 Aug 9.

Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: In multidrug regimens, including an intravenous aminoglycoside (e.g. amikacin [AMK]) is recommended for difficult-to-treat non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung diseases. Read More

Semin Diagn Pathol 2017 Nov 7;34(6):518-529. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Department of Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue/L25, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States. Electronic address:

Most pathologists are familiar with the microscopic features of tuberculosis and the need to examine special stains for acid-fast bacteria (AFB) in cases of granulomatous lung disease. However, misconceptions do exist, including the concept that finding AFB in "caseating granulomas" confirms the diagnosis of tuberculosis. This dogma is attributable to the high prevalence of tuberculosis in many countries, as well as unfamiliarity with the microscopic spectrum of non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. Read More

Heart Lung Circ 2017 Nov 15;26(11):e86-e89. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Infectious Disease Department, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address:

Rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (RGM) are a rare, often fatal cause of infective endocarditis. Although surgery has been the cornerstone of RGM endocarditis therapy, we present the first documented adult case of Mycobacterium fortuitum endocarditis cured with antibiotic therapy. Read More

Arch Bronconeumol 2017 Dec 19;53(12):698-700. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España.

Clin Infect Dis 2017 Sep;65(6):927-934

Department of Chest Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Background: Persistent growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in the lungs indicates continuous infection in MAC lung disease (MAC-LD), but its clinical significance has not been investigated. We aimed to evaluate the predictors of persistent culture-positivity for MAC (MAC-PP) and its impact on radiographic deterioration in MAC-LD.

Methods: Patients with MAC-LD at multiple medical centers from 2011 to 2016 were enrolled retrospectively. Read More

Respir Med 2017 05 10;126:9-16. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background And Objectives: Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (pMAC) disease manifests as various types of lesions, such as infiltrates, nodules, cavities, and bronchiectasis. However, the important determinants for clinical parameters in lung involvement are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to obtain quantitative parameters by 3-dimensional CT, and investigate the relationship between these parameters and the pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and health-related quality of life. Read More

Respiration 2017 20;93(6):406-414. Epub 2017 Apr 20.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland.

Background: Middle-lobe predominant bronchiectasis affecting the right middle-lobe and/or lingula (RMLP) is classically described in asthenic, elderly females with skeletal abnormalities or associated nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the frequency and clinical characteristics of patients with an RMLP phenotype in a cohort of newly diagnosed bronchiectasis patients and determine associations with disease severity.

Methods: A retrospective observational cross-sectional cohort study of consecutive bronchiectasis patients in our institution was performed. Read More

PLoS One 2017 27;12(3):e0174240. Epub 2017 Mar 27.

Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: This article focuses on the differences between CT findings of HIV-negative patients who have cavities with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease and those with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections (TB).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 128 NTM disease patients (79 males and 49 females) with cavities in chest CT, matched for age and gender with 128 TB patients in the same period. Sputum cultures of all patients were positive for pathogens. Read More

Can Respir J 2017 3;2017:6913564. Epub 2017 Jan 3.

Mycobacteriology Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technology in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary infections can be quite similar to tuberculosis, both clinically and radiologically. However, the treatment protocol is not similar. is a rare cause of NTM pulmonary infection. Read More

Radiographics 2017 Jan-Feb;37(1):52-72

From the Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, 1 Silverstein, Suite 130, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (A.C.N., E.J.M.B., S.I.K., M.M.H.); Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (K.R.); Department of Radiology (X.S.) and Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (E.S.G.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex (G.S.S.); Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Tex (D.O.); and Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex (A.E.S.).

Tuberculosis is a public health problem worldwide, including in the United States-particularly among immunocompromised patients and other high-risk groups. Tuberculosis manifests in active and latent forms. Active disease can occur as primary tuberculosis, developing shortly after infection, or postprimary tuberculosis, developing after a long period of latent infection. Read More

BMC Pulm Med 2017 01 5;17(1). Epub 2017 Jan 5.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea.

Background: Patients with distinctive morphotype were more susceptible to nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). However, little is known about the association between body morphotype and progression of NTM-LD. The aim of this study was to elucidate predictors of NTM-LD progression, focusing on body morphotype and composition. Read More

Sci Rep 2016 11 23;6:37266. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-lung disease (LD) is an increasing health problem worldwide. The diagnosis of this disease remains difficult, however the application of placenta growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has not yet been studied. We screened patients with Mycobacterium avium complex or M. Read More

Respir Med 2016 11 6;120:101-108. Epub 2016 Oct 6.

London North West Healthcare NHS Trusts, London, UK.

Background: Clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria inform diagnosis of pulmonary Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) disease and treatment decisions. This multicentre, review aims to characterise NTM disease meeting ATS/IDSA criteria and define factors associated with initiation of treatment.

Methods: Sputum samples growing NTM from 5 London hospitals between 2010 and 2014 were identified. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017 Jul 21;65(7):418-421. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.

We herein describe a surgical case of pulmonary involvement in Takayasu's arteritis with pulmonary infections of nontuberculous mycobacteria. A 24-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of a recurrent fever, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest revealed the occlusion of the right pulmonary artery and cavitary lesions in the right lower lobe of the lung. A further examination of the neck revealed the occlusion of aortic branches, and the patient was diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis. Read More

Radiologe 2016 Oct;56(10):874-884

Abteilung für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie mit Nuklearmedizin, Thoraxklinik, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland.

Clinical/methodical Issue: Granulomas as signs of specific inflammation of the lungs are found in various diseases with pulmonary manifestations and represent an important imaging finding.

Standard Radiological Methods: The standard imaging modality for the work-up of granulomatous diseases of the lungs is most often thin-slice computed tomography (CT). There are a few instances, e. Read More

Clin Respir J 2018 Feb 22;12(2):459-466. Epub 2016 Aug 22.

Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.

Introduction: Mycobacterium abscessus infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients can lead to poor outcomes. Early diagnosis is important, but there are no studies outlining specific imaging features of M. abscessus in CF. Read More

Ann Am Thorac Soc 2016 10;13(10):1712-1720

1 Department of Medicine and.

Rationale: Patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis are predominantly female and have an asthenic body morphotype and frequent nontuberculous mycobacterial respiratory infections. They also demonstrate phenotypic features (scoliosis, pectus deformity, mitral valve prolapse) that are commonly seen in individuals with heritable connective tissue disorders.

Objectives: To determine whether lumbar dural sac size is increased in patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis as compared with control subjects, and to assess whether dural sac size is correlated with phenotypic characteristics seen in individuals with heritable connective tissue disorders. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2016 Jun;178(25)

In recent decades, an increasing incidence of pulmonary infections with non-tuberculous mycobacteria has been reported, primarily affecting patients with structural lung diseases and/or immunosuppression. In Denmark, approximately 100 new cases of infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria occur yearly, most commonly with Mycobac-terium avium complex. Diagnosis is based on clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2016 Jun;95(26):e3978

aDepartment of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do bDepartment of Radiology, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital cDepartment of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Gangnam-gu, Seoul dDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do eDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.

To describe the features and clinical implications of computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy (PCNB) in pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease manifesting as a solitary nodule, mass, or mass-like consolidation mimicking malignancy.Among a cohort of 388 patients with NTM pulmonary disease, 14 patients with clinically and radiologically suspected lung cancer were included in our study. Two chest radiologists evaluated CT features, including lesion type (nodule, mass, or mass-like consolidation), morphologic features (margin, degree of enhancement, calcification), and presence of accompanying findings suggestive of NTM pulmonary disease (bronchiectasis with clustered centrilobular nodules or upper-lobe cavitary lesions) by consensus. Read More

Respiration 2016 21;91(5):386-402. Epub 2016 May 21.

Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) include more than 160 ubiquitous, environmental, acid-fast-staining bacterial species, some of which may cause disease in humans. Chronic pulmonary infection is the most common clinical manifestation. Although patients suffering from chronic lung diseases are particularly susceptible to NTM pulmonary disease, many affected patients have no apparent risk factors. Read More

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2016 May;20(5):582-7

Epidemiology Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, USA.

Setting: Tertiary referral center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.

Objective: To estimate the mortality rate and its correlates among persons with pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacteria (PNTM) disease.

Design: A retrospective review of 106 patients who were treated at the NIH Clinical Center and met American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria for PNTM. Read More

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol 2016 Apr;23(2):92-7

Departments of *Pulmonology †Radiology ‡Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, Tokyo §Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.

Background: Virtual fluoroscopic preprocedural planning (VFPP) is a figure in which the trace lines between the trachea and the target lesions are constructed along the connecting bronchus on Ray Summation image similar to fluoroscopy. The lines can be displayed at any angle with 3D imaging. This system was applied to bronchoscopy as a reference for forceps guidance under the fluoroscopy, as a new type of navigation. Read More

Intern Med 2016 1;55(7):787-91. Epub 2016 Apr 1.

Center for Pulmonary Diseases, National Hospital Organization Tokyo National Hospital, Japan.

Mycobacterium shinjukuense lung disease was diagnosed in 3 men and 3 women [mean age: 77.0±12.2 (57-93) years]. Read More