Chronic pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium terrae complex: a resected case

A case of localized cavitary disease in lung with multiple isolations of Mycobacterium terrae complex from the patient's sputum is presented. The patient's past history and clinical tests supported his immunologic competency. Prolonged cavitary disease with persistent positive sputum led him to submit to right lower lobe resection after 5 months of chemotherapy. Innumerable isolates of the same mycobacteria from the resected cavity with a compatible histopathologic finding supported Mycobacterium terrae complex as the definitive etiologic agent in this case.