CTICasesMycobacterium abscessus Infection (Classical Cavitary Pattern)
Imaging findings
CT demonstrates severe bilateral upper lobe cavitary disease with thick-walled cavities, surrounding bronchiectasis, tree-in-bud nodules, and consolidation in an older male with mild emphysema, without cystic fibrosis. Cultures confirmed Mycobacterium abscessus.
Key takeaways
Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium that can cause a fibrocavitary pulmonary disease resembling tuberculosis or other NTM species (the so-called classical pattern), typically in patients with preexisting structural lung disease, even without cystic fibrosis. M. abscessus is notorious for its resistance to standard antimicrobial therapy and is associated with the worst outcomes of any pulmonary NTM infection.
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