Dear All!
@apportee, @cila .. Cila, @cathyt .. Cathy, @coylemel333 .. Melody, @cowboy1997, @david1952 .. David, @digmeme .. Linda, @elaine .. Elaine, @flib .. Flib, @fransky, @heathert .. Heather, @hopeful33250 .. , @imeehaigt, .. imee, TeresaH, @janovr .. Jan, @justjanet .. Janet, @jillnc, @josephene .. Jo, @judyem .. Judy, @katiemknor .. Winnie, @kaystrand .. kay S., @kwilbur .. Kathryn, @laneyk .. Elaine, @liliane .. Liliane, @lynnettehuler .. Lynn, @margaretg .. Margaret, @melissa23 .. Melissa, @mimi68 ..Linda, @Paula_MAC2007 .. Paula, @reneeg .. Renee, @philomena .. Rosie MN, @rosemarya .. Rosemary, @sophie1019 .. Sophie, @suzieapples, @tdrell .. terri, @tutti .. Lisa, and anyone else I forgot to make note of!

I try really hard to keep the information on our MAC Forum accurate .. so when in doubt I go to “Mecca”! Dr. Timothy Aksamit at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN speaks nationally and internationally on our disease .. an internationally recognized expert on MAC in other words! So below is a message exchange between the two of us.

Mine to Dr. A;
Dr. Aksamit, we BOTH have a responsibility to the Mayo Clinic Connect Forum on MAC .. that I was asked by Mayo Clinic to moderate .. so we have a responsibility to make sure that the information provided on it is accurate.

PROBLEM: On my Forum it was posted “stated unequivocally that sputum tests are less than accurate, and recommends a bronchoscopy, period. He said he would never do or rely on sputum sampling for a dx - an accurate dx... Wanted you to know.”

MY PROBLEM: You as my doctor have ALWAYS relied on sputum cultures .. and I have always trusted your judgement. NOW it is being inferred that YOU are incorrect in your choices. Frankly it ticks me off as I have stressed that you have guided me with sputum cultures. SO .. what is correct? Do I need to correct myself and say bronchoscopies are the preferred method?? Please let me know ASAP .. because the above information has been posted to my Forum .. and I hate to lead people astray! Best regards! Katherine

Dr. A response to me:
Dear Katherine, There is no information that bronchoscopy is better than sputum collections for assessment of and following NTM lung disease. In patients who do not produce any sputum we often will do bronchoscopy. It is my opinion that serial sputum collections are the gold standard if available and that bronchoscopy is considered if patients are not producing any sputum, equivocal sputum results are noted, or other diagnoses other than NTM are being considered. Hope this helps. Please let me know if additional comments or questions.
Dr. A