[Monoarthritis caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare. Personal observation of 2 cases and review of the literature].

The authors report two cases of arthritis of a proximal interphalangeal articulation due to Mycobacterium (M) intracellulare. In both cases, an intra-articular corticosteroid injection, given for preexisting pain, was responsible for infection. Both diagnoses were based on results from cultures of biopsied tissue. Histological findings in one of the cases were non-specific, whereas tuberculoid granulomas were present in the other. Articular destruction had occurred in both patients at the time of diagnosis. M. intracellulare was sensitive to ethambutol in the first case, and to ethambutol and cycloserine in the second. The evolution of the disease could not be ascertained in one patient lost to follow-up. The second patient's course of disease was favorable after surgical excision and 10 months of tuberculostatic drugs. The study reviews the principal contributions of the literature.