title: Disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare Infection in an Immunocompetent Host.
abstract: Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection can occur in immunocompromised patients, and rarely in immunocompetent subjects. Due to the extensive distribution of the disease, clinical presentation of disseminated MAC may mimic malignancies, and thorough examinations are required in order to make accurate diagnosis. We report a case of disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare disease in an immunocompetent patient, which involved the lung, lymph nodes, spleen, and multiple bones. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography imaging showed multiple hypermetabolic lesions, which are suggestive of typical hematogenous metastasis. However, there was no evidence of malignancy in serial biopsies, and M. intracellulare was repeatedly cultured from respiratory specimens and bones. Herein, we should know that disseminated infection can occur in the immunocompetent subjects, and it can mimic malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Taejin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ok
authors.forename: Gwang Un
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jaechan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.forename: Bo Hyoung
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Se Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Byung Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bo Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Tae Sun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shim
keywords: Hybridization, Genetic; Immunocompetence; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Positron-Emission Tomography