[Role of surgical treatment in atypical Mycobacterium avium infection of the lung].

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease has recently become an increasingly significant problem. MAC is frequently difficult to treat because of its drug resistance. Therefore surgical treatment still plays an important role in the treatment of this disease. Lobectomy has mainly been performed, and the postoperative complication rate is relatively high (up to 32%). The rate of relapse after surgical treatment is reported to be satisfactorily low (less than 20%). Early pulmonary resection is beneficial in patients whose disease is still localized and who can tolerate resection surgery.