Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis is a self-limiting disorder that typically affects cervical lymph nodes of young women. Although autoimmune reaction and a viral etiology have been suggested, the definite cause has been uncertain. We evaluated the association of M. tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterium with this disorder.

From 1994 to 2002, Clinicopathological findings of 38 cases were reviewed. Multiplex nested PCR was done using DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue. Sequencing analysis was done to the cases showing positive band.

3 cases among 38(7.89%) showed amplified non-tuberculous mycobacterium DNA. Two cases are M. gordonae and one is M. fortuitum by sequencing analysis. All cases revealed no positive band for M. tuberculosis. Negative control cases showed no bands for both mycobacteriums.

Although 7.89% of cases showed amplified non-tuberculous mycobacterium DNA, more study is needed to confirm the association of non-tuberculous mycobacterium with subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis.