title: Comparable characteristics of tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacterial cavitary lung diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify characteristics that differentiate lung disease due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from that due to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive patients with lung cavities.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2006 to 2012, 142 AFB smear- and culture-positive patients with lung cavities were identified at the Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju, Korea. Clinical and radiographic characteristics were compared between patients with NTM disease and PTB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 142 patients, 112 were diagnosed with PTB and 30 with NTM disease. Patients with NTM disease were older (62 vs. 49 years, P = 0.001), more likely to have had previous anti-tuberculosis treatment (18, 60.0% vs. 34, 30.6%; P = 0.001), more likely to have haemoptysis (9, 30.0% vs. 13, 11.9%; P = 0.022) and less likely to have consolidation on chest radiograph (20, 66.7% vs. 98, 87.5%; P = 0.007) than PTB patients. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥65 years (OR 3.37, 95%CI 1.24-9.13, P = 0.010) and previous anti-tuberculosis treatment (OR 3.75, 95%CI 1.46-9.65, P = 0.006) were significantly associated with NTM disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cavitary patients with positive AFB smears and NTM or PTB had considerable overlapping clinical characteristics, although patients aged ≥65 years or with a previous history of anti-tuberculosis treatment were more likely to have NTM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: D-J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents