Gill M J, Fanning E A, Chomyc S
Scand J Infect Dis. 1987;19(1):77-83. doi: 10.3109/00365548709032381.
Between 1979 and 1983, 16 patients under 15 years of age living within 480 km of Edmonton, Alberta (latitude 53 degrees 34' N) were seen with cervical lymphadenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria. During this period only 4 cases of cervical lymphadenitis from Mycobacterium tuberculosis occurred in the same age and geographical grouping. Young children age 1-4 years accounted for most cases (14/16). The onset showed no seasonal preponderance and the nodal enlargement was either asymptomatic (8/16) or associated with only minor systemic symptoms. M. avium intracellulare scrofulaceum (6 cases) or M. avium intracellulare (4 cases) were identified on cultures from the infected node. In the remaining cases characteristic histopathology and acid fast bacilli were seen on biopsy specimens but no organisms could be cultured. Surgery was employed in all cases either for diagnosis or for therapy. This series demonstrates that atypical mycobacteria may cause childhood lymphadenitis throughout the year in a harsh inland Northern climate. The etiological pathogen can be difficult to culture but complete surgical excision of the infected node is usually curative.
1979年至1983年间，在艾伯塔省埃德蒙顿（北纬53度34分）480公里范围内，有16名15岁以下儿童因非典型分枝杆菌引起颈部淋巴结炎前来就诊。在此期间，同一年龄组和同一地理区域内仅4例由结核分枝杆菌引起的颈部淋巴结炎。1 - 4岁的幼儿占大多数病例（14/16）。发病无季节性倾向，淋巴结肿大要么无症状（8/16），要么仅伴有轻微全身症状。从感染淋巴结培养物中鉴定出胞内鸟分枝杆菌（6例）或鸟分枝杆菌（4例）。其余病例活检标本可见特征性组织病理学改变及抗酸杆菌，但未培养出病原体。所有病例均采用手术进行诊断或治疗。本系列病例表明，在北方内陆恶劣气候条件下，非典型分枝杆菌可全年引起儿童淋巴结炎。病原体可能难以培养，但完全手术切除感染淋巴结通常可治愈。
