Clinical and X-ray Manifestations of Mycobacteriosis in Patients with Chronic Lung Disease

Study Objective: to identify clinical and X-ray features of mycobacteriosis caused by slow-growing forms of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTMB), in patients with chronic non-specific lung diseases and TB. Study Design: prospective and retrospective study. Materials and Methods. We examined 166 patients with chronic lung diseases: bronchitis, obstructive respiratory diseases, bronchiectatic disease, and TB. 79 patients had a primary disease and nontuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM); controls were 87 patients without NTM. The study included only patients with slow-growing forms of NTMB. Study Results. Analysis of the clinical presentations demonstrated that, when associated with chronic lung diseases, a mycobacterial infection did not cause severe aggravation of clinical symptoms of the disease, except for TB. All study groups showed identical X-ray symptoms: fibrous, focal infiltrative, cavity changes, and bronchictasia. Still, most often they were recorded in patients with NTM. Conclusion. NTM caused by slow-growing forms of NTMB is diagnosed in long-lasting chronic non-specific lung diseases without aggravated clinical symptoms of the disease. When associated with the tuberculous process, a mycobacterial infection makes clinical symptoms more pronounced, but the duration of the disease remains the same. Excessive fibrosis is noted on CT scans, and main functional parameters get worse. Keywords: nontuberculous mycobacteriosis, chronic non-specific lung disease, TB.