title: Consolidations in nodular bronchiectatic Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease: Mycobacterium avium complex or other infection?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to define the clinical implications of consolidations in nodular bronchiectatic type Mycobacterium avium complex (NBMAC) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 69 patients (M : F = 17 : 52; mean age, 64 years; age range, 41-85 years) with MAC isolated in the sputum culture and nodular bronchiectasis on the initial and follow-up CT scans were included. We retrospectively reviewed the incidence of consolidation and analyzed its clinical course by using radiographic changes with or without anti-MAC drug therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 44 of the 69 cases (64%), focal consolidations were seen on the initial and follow-up CT images. In 35 of the 44 (80%) cases, consolidations completely regressed, and in 3 cases (7%), consolidations partially regressed within 2 months with only antibiotics. In 2 cases (5%), the consolidations remained stable for over 2 months without anti-MAC drug therapy. Only in 4 cases (9%) did the consolidations improve after anti-MAC drug therapy. In 11 of the 38 cases (29%) with responsiveness to antibiotics, non-mycobacterial micro-organisms were identified in sputum, including pseudomonas, hemophilus, staphylococcus, and others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In NB-MAC, consolidations are commonly present on CT. In these conditions, most of consolidations result from pneumonia other than MAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Hyun Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seog Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ho Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Won Sang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents