DISEASE DUE TO ANONYMOUS MYCOBACTERIA

POTENTIAL FOR SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS

¹ From the Departments of Radiology and Clinical Pathology of the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York

Disease due to the anonymous Mycobacteria is a growing problem in the United States. The characteristics of the anonymous Mycobacteria are reviewed and the clinical, roentgenologic and laboratory experiences with 36 cases are summarized.

This series includes 3 cases representing documented pulmonary and osseous disease due to the scotochromogens, ordinarily considered a rare occurrence.

It is important to identify patients with disease due to the anonymous Mycobacteria to prevent their unnecessary and potentially hazardous confinement with tuberculosis patients. They do not represent health hazards to their families or to the community. Proper diagnosis should lead to early vigorous drug therapy and, because drug therapy is often ineffectual, consideration should be given to early surgical intervention. Confusion with other diseases such as reticuloendotheliosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, etc. may lead to steroid therapy with unfortunate consequences.

Although diseases due to the anonymous Mycobacteria do not appear to produce specific roentgen abnormalities, they may be suspected as etiologic agents in certain clinical settings. These are set forth as "rules of thumb" which when coupled with a greater awareness of the anonymous Mycobacteria as pathogens in man, should lead to correct diagnosis with greate frequency.

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