treatment outcome in children with nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis: a retrospective follow-up study

Introduction: Information on the long-term treatment outcome following nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lymphadenitis is very limited. We performed a study to (a) compare cure rates following different initial treatment courses, (b) describe subsequent treatment courses and their outcomes, and (c) determine the occurrence of late sequelae in immunocompetent children with NTM lymphadenitis. Materials and Methods: In 2011, we conducted a retrospective follow-up study in 71 parents whose children had been hospitalized with NTM disease 2002–2005. A telephone survey was performed using a standardized questionnaire to collect information on the therapeutic management and treatment outcome. Results: Of 61 children with NTM lymphadenitis, 33 (54%) children were cured after the initial treatment. We found no significant difference in cure rates following surgical intervention only (45%, 13/29 children) and a combination of surgical intervention and chemotherapy (61%, 19/31 children). In 7 out of 11 children, the cure rate following complete lymph node excision was 64%. Subsequent courses of treatment including repeated surgical intervention, combination therapy, chemotherapy only, and wait-and-see strategy in children where initial therapy failed resulted in the cure of all 61 children. In four children (7%), recurrences were observed up to 5 years later. Conclusions: Our study showed that recurrent NTM lymphadenitis might be observed several years after initial resolution of disease. The cure rate following complete lymph node excision was lower than reported in other studies. Subsequent treatment courses were necessary in half of the children. Physicians and parents need to be aware that NTM lymphadenitis in children requires careful choice of intervention and active follow-up.