Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenopathy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Surgical pathology

Background:

• Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenopathy is a challenging pediatric infection.
• Current treatment strategies often involve surgery and antimicrobials with variable success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the outcomes of surgical and antimicrobial treatments for non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenopathy in children.
• To evaluate the efficacy of novel antimicrobial combinations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 17 pediatric cases with non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenopathy.
• Analysis of surgical interventions (excision, incision) and antimicrobial regimens.

Main Results:

• Complete node excision was curative in all cases.
• Incision of affected nodes resulted in persistent discharging lesions.
• Standard antituberculous therapies were largely ineffective.
• A macrolide/quinolone combination demonstrated effectiveness in three treated children.

Conclusions:

• Surgical excision is the definitive treatment for pediatric non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenopathy.
• Incision alone is insufficient and can lead to complications.
• Novel macrolide/quinolone regimens represent a promising therapeutic option for refractory cases.