Acid-Fast Bacteria in Disguise: Mycobacterium avium Complex in Purulent Exudate; Ultrasound Correlation

Abstract

Abstract In immunocompetent hosts, Mycobacterium avium complex lymphadenitis is almost exclusively a disease of children, involving cervical lymph nodes. In the setting of human immunodeficiency virus infection, it can occur as a manifestation of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. This case study reports a case of M. avium complex in the setting of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, presenting as purulent lymphadenitis, correlating cytopathology and surgical pathology findings with ultrasound imaging.