Resection of the right middle lobe and lingula for mycobacterial infection.
BACKGROUND
In a series of 229 patients infected with mycobacterial organisms, we noted a specific female phenotype that involves isolated infections of the middle lobe and lingula.


METHODS
Thirteen patients were found to have infections of the middle lobe, lingula, or both. All of them were infected with Mycobacterium other then Mycobacterium tuberculosis, all were women, 12 of the 13 were slender, and most had variable combinations of skeletal abnormalities. All underwent resection of the middle lobe, lingula, or both.


RESULTS
There were no operative deaths. Only 2 patients have had reactivation requiring additional antibiotic therapy. All patients have had a decreased number of pulmonary infections in the postoperative period. Anatomic findings at operation included a complete major fissure and at least a partially complete minor fissure with middle lobe resections or an elongated lingula.


CONCLUSIONS
Mycobacterial infection of the middle lobe and lingula is primarily a disease of asthenic women and is often associated with skeletal abnormalities and complete fissures or an elongated lingula. We recommend that surgical intervention be performed early once the condition is identified.
Pomerantz
M
M
Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Denton
J R
JR
Huitt
G A
GA
Brown
J M
JM
Powell
L A
LA
Iseman
M D
MD
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*