Atypical mycobacterial infection of the parotid gland

A localized atypical mycobacterial infection of the major salivary gland is a rare disease. In this report the cases of three patients with this lesion are presented. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture, skin testing with specific antigens, bacteriologic culture, and histopathologic findings. The patients were successfully treated by total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation, which in our opinion is the therapy of choice in localized atypical mycobacterial infections.