Atypical mycobacteria are classified into four groups: Group I, the photochromogens, produce a yellow pigment on exposure t o light; Group IT, the scotochromogens, produce a yellow pigment in the dark; Group 111, the nonchromogens, produce n o pigment, and Group IV may or may not produce pigment but is characterized by rapid growth ("rapid growers"). All can produce disease in humans which is most frequently pulmonary but may affect lymph nodes, bone, meninges, a n d other organs. The clinical picture may be indistinguishable from disease caused by M. horninis. Disseminated disease is infrequent and we have been able to find only 21 such cases i n the literature.
A case of disseminated disease caused by M. kansasii, a Group I organism, i n a patient with chronic granulocytic leukemia, is the object of this report. The clinical a n d laboratory features of these cases are reviewed. Tuberculosis seems to occur more often in patients with CGL than in other leukemias. The pathophysiologic significance of the defective stem cell concept i n the concurrence of thme conditions is discussed.
ISSEMINATED ATYPICAI. MYCOI!ACTERIOSIS IS
D a rare clinical entity. Review of the English literature has revealed only 21 such occurred in patients with concomitant myeloproliferative disorders. One had chronic granulocytic leukemia and disseminated infection by a scotochromogen (Group JI).17 Another had a "myeloproliferative disease" (type not specified) and disseminated infection by a photochromogen (Group l)*4 T h e purpose of this report is to present a case of disseminated mycobncterium Knnsnsii (Group I-photochromogen) infection in a patient with chronic graniilocytic leukemia.