Mycobacterium fortuitum–induced persistent parotitis: Successful therapy with clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin

Background. Parotitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria, a very rare disease entity, has never been reported to be caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum (M. fortuitum) in the literature. Methods and Results. An 8‐year‐old girl was seen with painful swelling of the right parotid gland despite antibiotic treatment of more than 1 month. Elevated serum amylase activity and diffuse contrast‐enhanced CT of the parotid gland confirmed the diagnosis of parotitis. Histopathological study of specimens taken from the right parotid tail mass showed granulomatous inflammation with acid‐fast positive bacilli; culture later confirmed M. fortuitum. After administration of clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin for 9 consecutive months, the parotitis and parotid tail mass were completely resolved at follow‐up examination. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of parotitis caused by M. fortuitum and its successful medical treatment. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007