Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-21T16:55:54.922Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections presenting as salivary gland masses in children: investigation and conservative management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

H. J. Cox*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Devon and Exeter Health Care NHS Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter, Devon.
A. P. Brightwell
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Devon and Exeter Health Care NHS Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter, Devon.
T. Riordan
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Royal Devon and Exeter Health Care NHS Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter, Devon.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr H. J. Cox, ENT Department, Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, Hants. Fax: 01705 762403

Abstract

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections in children commonly present as cervicofacial masses. The importance of early diagnosis is in the exclusion of infection requiring treatment, particularly tuberculosis and the rare case of malignancy. Five children with NTM presenting with salivary gland masses illustrate the value of skin testing with new tuberculins and the place of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the investigation of these infections.

Four children who were skin tested reacted specifically to one of the new tuberculins, two indicating infection with Mycobacterium malmoense, confirmed by culture, the others responding to tuberculins from M. scrofulaceum and M. avium-intracellulare, neither having a positive culture. The one case not skin tested produced M. avium-intracellulare on culture.

All five patients were managed conservatively. The place for conservative management when the facial nerve is at risk and extensive skin excision is indicated are discussed.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aleva, M., Guida, R. A., Romo, T., Kimmelman, C. P. (1988) Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis: a persistent diagnostic problem. Laryngoscope 98: 855857.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
American Thoracic Society (1990) Diagnosis and treatment of disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria. American Review of Respiratory Diseases 142: 940953.Google Scholar
Cohen, M. B., Bottles, K., Ablin, A. R., Miller, T. R. (1989) The use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in children. Western Journal of Medicine 150: 665667.Google Scholar
Davis, J. P., Prinsley, P. R., Robinson, P. J. (1993) Cervical lymphadenopathy due to mycobacterial infection: a diagnostic protocol. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 107: 614617.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Del Beccaro, M. A., Mendelman, P. M., Nolan, C. (1989) Diagnostic usefulness of mycobacterial skin test antigens in childhood lymphadenitis. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 8: 206210.Google Scholar
Derias, N. W., Chong, W. H., Fitzgerald-O'Connor, A. F. (1992) Fine needle aspiration cytology of a head and neck swelling in a child: a non-invasive approach to diagnosis. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 106: 755757.Google Scholar
Frable, M. A. S., Frable, W. J. (1982) Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revisited. Laryngoscope 92: 14141418.Google Scholar
Hallberg, A., Hallberg, T., Holmberg, L. (1980) PPD testing as a diagnostic aid in non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavia 69: 511516.Google Scholar
Huebner, R. E., Schein, M. E., Cauthen, G. M., Geiter, L. J., O'Brien, R. J. (1992) Usefulness of skin testing with mycobacterial antigens in children with cervical lymphadenopathy. Pediatrics Infectious Disease Journal 11: 450456.Google Scholar
Koch, R. (1882) Die Aetiologie der Tuberculose. Berliner Klinische Wochensehrift 19: 221230.Google Scholar
Lau, S. K., Wei, W. I., Hsu, C., Engzell, U. C. G. (1990) Efficacy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 104: 2427.Google Scholar
O'Connell, J. E., George, M. K., Speculand, B., Pahor, A. L. (1993) Mycobacterial infection of the parotid gland: an unusual cause of parotid swelling. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 107: 561564.Google Scholar
Margileth, A. M., Chandra, R., Altman, R. P. (1984) Chronic lymphadenopathy due to mycobacterial infection. American Journal of Diseases of Children 138: 917922.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rieu, P. N. M. A., van den Broek, P., Pruszczynski, M., de Wilde, P. C. M., Festen, C. (1990) Atypical mycobacterial infection of the parotid gland. Journal of Pediatric Surgery 25, 483486.Google Scholar
Saitz, E. W. (1981) Cervical lymphadenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria. Paediatric Clinics of North American 28 (4): 823839.Google Scholar
Schuit, K. E., Powell, D. A. (1978) Mycobacterial lymphadenitis in childhood. American Journal of Diseases of Children 132: 675677.Google Scholar
Silverman, J. E., Gurley, A. M., Holbrook, C. T., Joshi, V. J. (1991) Pediatric fine-needle aspiration biopsy. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 95 (5): 653659.Google Scholar
Wakely, P. E., Kardos, T. E., Frable, W. J. (1988) Application of fine-needle aspiration biopsy to paediatrics Human Pathology 19 (12): 13831386.Google Scholar
White, M. P., Bangash, H., Goel, K. M., Jenkins, P. A. (1986) Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis. Archives of Disease in Childhood 61: 368371.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wickam, K. (1986) Clinical significance of nontuberculous mycobacteria. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 18: 337345.Google Scholar
Wolinsky, E. (1979) Nontuberculosis mycobacteria and associated diseases. American Review of Respiratory Diseases 119: 107159.Google Scholar