Analysis of factors of developing the nontuberculous mycobacterial isolation after operation of lung cancer

Background: We investigate the factors of developing the nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) isolation after operation of lung cancer. Methods: In the retrospective case-control study of 224 patients who underwent lung cancer operation at a tertiary-care center between 2006 and 2013, we compared patients with NTM isolation (n=56) or without NTM isolation (n=168) after lung cancer operation, including their clinical characteristics, other examinations, and factors of operation. The control group assigned randomly to patients who underwent the lung cancer operation. Results: In the total of 56 patients with NTM isolation, 26 patients (46.4%) confirmed NTM identification, and 12 patients (21.4%) were treated to NTM lung disease. In univariate analysis, age and underlying disease of old pulmonary tuberculosis, airway disease, and bronchiectasis were related to NTM isolation after operation of lung cancer. The ratio of patients taken the post-operative radiation therapy to lung was higher in patients with NTM isolation than those without NTM isolation. There were no significant differences to factors of operation and lung cancer. In multivariate analysis, there were no statistically significant differences between the patients with NTM isolation and without. Conclusions: The underlying disease of old pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis might be important factors to develop NTM isolation after lung cancer operation.