Background: In recent years, lymphadenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria (also called nontuberculous mycobacteria [NTMB] or, more recently, environmental) have played a significant role in the differential diagnosis of adenitis in non-immunocompromised children.
Objectives: To describe the clinical and pathological findings in childhood NTMB adenitis and study the possible usefulness of antimicrobial therapy in addition to surgery.
Methods: We present eight cases of neck lymphadenitis occurring over a 5-year period. All of the children received combined chemotherapy, and six also underwent surgery. Of the two remaining patients, the parents of one child refused surgery and a watchful approach was adopted in the other.
Results: Complete clinical recovery was achieved in all patients except one who did not undergo surgery.
Conclusions: Prolonged administration of two antibiotics (of which one must be clarithromycin) in addition to surgery was well-tolerated and could be useful in patients with NTMB neck lymphadenitis.