Mycotic aortic aneurysm due to intravesical BCG immunotherapy: Clinical manifestations and diagnostic challenges

Adverse drug reactions of intravesical instillation therapy for bladder cancer: based on FDA adverse event reporting system

BACKGROUND

Intravesical chemotherapy and immunotherapy are common adjuvant treatments for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer post-surgery. Analyzing adverse events linked to these therapies, can assist in clinical decision-making and risk assessment.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Disproportionality analysis was conducted to analyze data from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database from the first quarter of 2004 to the first quarter of 2024, exploring potential positive signals between Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, mitomycin-C, epirubicin, gemcitabine, and adverse events.

RESULTS

The database retrieved 2018, 140, 31, and 85 adverse event reports associated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, mitomycin-C, epirubicin, and gemcitabine, respectively. Adverse reactions not mentioned in the label, such as aortic aneurysm and ocular congestion, were observed in preferred term level related to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Mitomycin-C exhibited specificity in skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases not reflected in the package insert. Gemcitabine-induced adverse drug reactions showed signals in vascular and lymphatic diseases meeting the screening criteria of all 4 indicators, with capillary leakage syndrome being the preferred term with the highest signal intensity.

CONCLUSION

This study observed new adverse event signals, providing important assistance for drug selection in adjuvant therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer postoperatively.

Invasive Mycobacterium bovis Infection Outside the Genitourinary Tract Following Bacille Calmette-Guerin Therapy for Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer significantly impacts global health, particularly non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which is typically treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. While there is evidence that BCG can effectively prevent tumor recurrence and progression, it can cause adverse effects, including disseminated infection, necessitating the exclusion of active tuberculosis and the assessment of immunosuppressive conditions before treatment. We present two cases of disseminated BCG infection. The first involves an 85-year-old male who developed an abscess in his right thigh post-BCG therapy, successfully treated with isoniazid (INH), ethambutol, and rifampin. The second case is a 63-year-old male who, three years post-BCG therapy and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, developed a right psoas abscess and a mycotic aneurysm. He was also treated with ethambutol, INH, and rifampin, in addition to surgical intervention. Effective management of BCG-related infections requires early identification of Mycobacterium bovis, a multidisciplinary approach, thorough pre-treatment evaluations, and aggressive treatment strategies, including anti-tubercular drugs and surgical intervention as necessary.

BCGitis with aortoiliac aneurysm involvement: Report of two cases and review of the literature

BCGitis is a rare complication after intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin for high-grade superficial bladder cancer and carcinoma in situ. May cause vascular involvement. We present 2 cases and a review of the literature of the case reports pubished on the 10 years prior to April of 2022, when this proyect was finished, which described a case of aortoiliac mycotic aneurysm after receiving this treatment. Of the 51 cases included (49 revised and 2 original), 100% were men, 82% were older than 65 years. The median latency period was 15 months (IQR 18). The most frequent location was the abdominal aorta, rupture occurred in 45,1% of patients. The most frequent symptom was abdominal or lumbar pain (61%), followed by general syndrome (49%). In 39,2% cases, it was associated with retroperitoneal abscesess. Attributable mortality was 13,6%. BCGitis should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients who have received BCG therapy and present vascular involvement, even years after being treated.

Mycotic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Secondary to BCG Therapy for Non-muscle Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for treatment of bladder cancer is a rare cause of Mycobacterium bovis infected aortic aneurysm. Typical presentations have included general malaise, fever, and lower back pain. We present a case with lower back pain and constipation as presenting symptoms, leading to diagnosis of mycotic aneurysm presumed secondary to intravesical BCG therapy. Treatment included open surgical repair with femoral vein grafting and anti-tubercular therapy. This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion for less common infectious complications of BCG therapy.

A case of mycotic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm after bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy for bladder cancer and a review of the literature

A 69-year-old patient presented with a 9-month history of constitutional symptoms and a 3-week history of increasing abdominal and back pain. He had a history of bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy for bladder cancer 9 months earlier. An infrarenal mycotic aneurysm was detected by positron emission tomography-computed tomography. His abdominal aorta was reconstructed using a tube graft tailored from a bovine pericardium sheet. We chose this graft because of its acellular nature and reduced risk of postoperative infection. The culture from the aortic wall yielded acid fast bacilli, and he was treated with antituberculosis medication. His postoperative recovery was uneventful, except for chylous ascites.

FDG-PET findings associated with various medical procedures and treatments

[¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is a well-established modality with high sensitivity for the diagnosis and staging of oncologic patients. FDG is taken up by the glucose transporter of the cell membrane and becomes trapped within the cell. In addition to malignant neoplasms, active inflammatory lesions and some kinds of benign tumors also accumulate FDG. Moreover, the degree of uptake into normal organs and tissues depends on various physiological conditions, which is affected by various medical procedures, treatments, and drugs. To avoid misleading interpretations, it is important to recognize possible situations of unexpected abnormal accumulation that mimic tumor lesions. In this review, we present various FDG findings associated with surgical or medical procedures and treatments. Some findings reflect the expected physiological reaction to treatment, and some show inflammation due to prior procedures. Occasionally, FDG-PET visualizes other disorders that are unrelated to the malignancy, which may be associated with the adverse effects of certain drugs that the patient is taking. Careful review of medical records and detailed interviews of patients are thus necessary.

Failed endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair due to Mycobacterium bovis infection following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

A mycotic aneurysm after intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for early-stage bladder cancer is a rare, but life-threatening, complication. In the present report, we have described the case of a patient who had undergone endovascular aneurysm repair for a rapidly growing saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm after BCG therapy. Three months after endovascular aneurysm repair, the patient had developed an abscess that required open surgery. Cultures from a blood sample and the abscess revealed Mycobacterium bovis BCG. A mycotic aneurysm due to BCG therapy should be suspected in patients with a history of BCG treatment. Such patients should immediately start antitubercular therapy.

Multisystemic BCGitis: A rare complication of intravesical BCG immunotherapy for bladder cancer

Intermediate- to high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is preferably treated with transurethral resection followed by adjuvant intravesical immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). BCG acts as an immune stimulator, inducing a complex inflammatory response that selectively targets tumoral cells. Mild side effects of BCG instillation, such as fever, malaise, and bladder irritation are frequent, while severe treatment-associated complications of the genito-urinary tract are rare. “Distant” complications are even rarer and, since BCG is able to disseminate hematogenously, virtually all organs and systems can be involved, with the lungs, liver and musculoskeletal system being most commonly affected. Vascular complications of BCG immunotherapy are exceedingly rare and difficult to diagnose, because they can mimic other vascular infections and may occur several years after treatment. Knowledge of previous BCG immunotherapy and awareness about treatment-related complications is essential to avoid misdiagnosis, and to guide appropriate treatment.

Mycotic arterial aneurysm secondary to BCG intravesical instillation: A review

OBJECTIVE

Mycotic aortic aneurysm is a rare and life-threatening pathology. The first case of mycotic aneurysm induced by immunotherapy with bacille Calmette-Guérin for malignancy was published in 1988. The main objective of this review is to characterize this rare pathology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since then, 60 cases of arterial aneurysm following intra vesical BCG instillation have been described in the literature. All cases have been included, and characteristics have been collected retrospectively, with simple statistical analyses of the cases.

RESULTS

We present a brief review from 1988 to 2022 enhancing the contemporary understanding of this arterial infection. Mycotic aneurysm secondary to BCG instillation has a poor prognosis, up to 50% complication and 15% mortality at 1 month, whether managed by open repair or endovascular means.

CONCLUSION

BCG mycotic aneurysm is an extremely serious condition, the diagnosis of which must be considered at an early stage in order to adapt diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

[Aortic Complications Related to Mycobacterium bovis after Intravesical Bacille Calmette-Guérin Therapy - a Systematic Review]

BACKGROUND

Aortic complications after intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) application are a rare complication of the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The aim of this systematic review was to perform a descriptive analysis of previously published studies and to discuss the particular challenges of diagnosis and treatment of this rare complication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A literature search was performed in PubMed (1949-2021) and Web of Science (1900-2021) using the search terms "mycobacterium" OR "bovis" OR "BCG" AND "aorta" OR "aneurysm". In a staged review process, publications with the following inclusion criteria were included in data analysis: original paper, full-text availability in English or German and aortic complication after intravesical BCG instillation. We focused on the analysis of BCG-specific medical history data as well as treatment strategies in relation to patient outcome and the occurrence of graft infections during follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 60 individual cases were described in 55 published articles. BCG-induced mycotic aortic aneurysms can occur in all segments of the thoracoabdominal aorta, but the infrarenal aortic segment was most commonly affected (65% of cases). The most common configuration was saccular outpouchings (65%). Concomitant infections in other tissues were typical (65%). Patients with mycotic aneurysm presented with or without consecutive aortic rupture in 28% and 63%, respectively. Diagnosis was based on a combination of pathological and microbiological examinations. A common treatment algorithm was surgical infection treatment (85%) and antitubercular therapy (83%). Performed simultaneously, they resulted in a long-term survival of 81%. Graft infection after initial aortic repair with alloplastic material (n = 40) developed in ten patients (25%) during follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Diagnosis of mycotic aneurysms or vascular complications after intravesical BCG application is exceptionally challenging and a high level of suspicion is required. Diagnosis is based on obtaining sample material of affected regions and the combination of patient's history, clinical presentation and pathological or microbiological examinations. Currently, no consensus guideline for optimal medical treatment options of aortic complications secondary to BCG instillation exists. The combination of surgical treatment and supportive antitubercular therapy seems to achieve the best results. Since the risk of prosthetic infection after the use of alloplastic materials remains high (25%), we strongly suggest evaluating autologous or allogenic aortic replacement during initial aortic repair.

Aortic aneurysm and aortic graft infection related to Mycobacterium bovis after intravesical Bacille Calmette-Guérin therapy-a case series

Background

So called “mycotic” aortic aneurysms account for only 0.7 to 1.3% of all aortic aneurysms and are commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is part of the therapy of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Case presentation

We report a case series of three patients with a mycobacterial graft infection related to BCG after surgical treatment of a presumed mycotic aortic aneurysm as an extremely rare complication after NMIBC treatment. All three patients developed aortic aneurysm after BCG instillation and subsequent mycobacterial graft infection.

Conclusion

Diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion because of its nonspecific symptoms and imaging. The pathogen is not detected by standard microbiological testing. Treatment includes triple antimycobacterial therapy and radical surgical interventions. Graft preservation may be considered if no anastomosis is involved.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12893-021-01142-1.

Mycotic infrarenal aortic aneurysm due to mycobacterium after intravesical treatment for bladder cancer

Intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, a live-attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is a common adjuvant therapy for bladder cancer with a low incidence of serious adverse events. The case described herein illustrates a rare complication of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation that resulted from invasion of the mycobacterium into tissue outside of the bladder lining, also known as microbial dissemination, leading to infection of the aortic wall and development of a mycotic aneurysm, and highlights the therapeutic challenges presented by the aortic pathology in this clinical scenario.

Complications of intravesical BCG therapy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: our tertiary care centre experience

Background

Urothelial bladder carcinoma accounts for around 3.9% cases of all the male cancers in India. Non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (NMIBC) is predominant group which constitute approximately three fourth of the urothelial bladder cancer. Intravesical BCG immunotherapy is the corner stone of today’s NMIBC management. However, as with any other therapy it has its own complications and its interruption due to these adverse effects is a major cause of suboptimal efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess the complications of intravesical BCG therapy and their management in NMIBC patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted between October 2016 and November 2019; a backward review of 149 patients with diagnosis of NMIBC that undergone intravesicle BCG therapy was performed. Patient’s demographical, clinical, diagnostic and procedural data regarding bladder tumour, BCG therapy, its complications and management were collected and analysed.

Results

Total 149 patients were analysed, comprising 116 males and 33 females. The mean age was of 57.2 ± 6.7 years. Total 85.23% were primary and 14.76% were recurrent tumours. Total 96 patients (64.42%) completed the planned course, while 53 (35.57%) interrupted. The reasons for BCG interruption includes adverse effects (15.4%), progression of disease (6.7%), disease refractory to BCG (4.6%) and disease recurrence during BCG (3.3%). Most of the adverse events occurred in first 6 months and most interruptions occurred after the induction period. Cystitis was the most common observed adverse effect seen in 39.6% patients. Frequency, urgency, haematuria were common presentation. Radical cystectomy was the most common (16.10%) further treatment with patients whose treatment was interrupted.

Conclusion

BCG is an indispensable therapy available for NMIBC, but it is associated with array of adverse effects and complications, which are the main reasons for poor compliance to BCG therapy. Although BCG-related complications can affect any organ in the body, potentially life-threatening systemic BCG-related infections are encountered in only < 5% of patients. There are some difficulties in diagnosis of the BCG complications because acid-fast staining, culture and PCR test are not always positive; tissue biopsies should be indicated sometimes to evaluate histopathology and presence of M. bovis. A persistently monitored multidisciplinary approach with high index of suspicion and prompt anti-TB therapy can help to derive the maximum benefits while keeping the complications at check.

Rare case of a proximal descending thoracic aorta mycotic aneurysm following intravesical BCG injections for the treatment of bladder cancer

A 79-year-old man presented with an enlarging thoracic aneurysm on the background of superficial bladder cancer treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) injections. Following the injections, he developed deranged liver function tests and hepatomegaly. Liver biopsy revealed granulomatous hepatitis compatible with disseminated mycobacterial infection (BCG-osis) and was treated with anti-tuberculosis agents for 12 months. A surveillance CT scan performed as a follow-up for his bladder cancer in 2018 revealed a saccular thoracic aneurysm at the ligamentum arteriosum, which was metabolically active on positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Given the timeframe from intravesical instillation of BCG and the metabolic activity on PET scan, the lesion was consistent with a mycotic aneurysm secondary to disseminated mycobacterial infection. Following multidisciplinary team discussion, a thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair was performed. The stent grafts were placed distal to the left subclavian artery with good angiographic results and no immediate postoperative complications. He was initiated on long-term antibiotics to cover potential bacterial pathogens including mycobacterium.

Rapid detection of bacille Calmette-Guérin-associated mycotic aortic aneurysm using novel cell-free DNA assay

Intravesical instillation of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is an adjuvant immunotherapy for bladder carcinoma. Typical complications include fever, malaise, and dysuria. However, more severe complications have been reported, including granulomatous pneumonitis, BCG sepsis, and vascular infections. We present a case of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated by iliopsoas abscess 2 years after BCG treatment and discuss a novel diagnostic tool for mycobacterial strain identification.

Tuberculous Psoas Abscess and Worsening Vascular Aneurysm; All from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Therapy?

Patient: Male, 76

Final Diagnosis: Tuberculous psoas abscess

Symptoms: Fever

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Ruptured aortic aneurysm due to Mycobacterium bovis BCG with a delayed bacteriological diagnosis due to false negative result of the MPB 64 immunochromatographic assay

Background

Adjuvant therapy with bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG), a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, has become the treatment of choice for low-risk superficial bladder carcinoma following transurethral resection of the bladder. Complications following vesical BCG instillations are uncommon but, in some cases, severe side-effects can occur such as sepsis or mycotic aneurysm. Besides usual laboratory techniques used for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infections (smear microscopy and cultures), commercial immunochromatographic assays detecting MBP64, a 24 kDa M. tuberculosis complex-specific secretory protein, can rapidly distinguish MTBC and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM). MPB64 is found in M. tuberculosis, M. bovis and some but not all substrains of M.bovis BCG. Therefore, these immunochromatographic tests can lead to false negative results and delayed bacteriological diagnosis depending on the presence or absence of MPB64 protein in BCG substrains used for intravesical therapy.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 78-year-old male patient who was admitted to the hospital because of a 1-month history of unexplained fever, thrill, weight-loss and general malaise. His past medical history was marked by a non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma treated by transurethral resection followed by BCG instillations (Oncotice, Merck, USA). The patient was initially treated for a urinary tract infection but as fever persists after 72 h of antibiotherapy, urinary tract ultrasound was performed and revealed a large abdominal aortic aneurysm confirmed by computed tomography. Surgery was performed after multidisciplinary discussion. Direct smear of perioperative samples revealed acid-fast bacilli and both solid and liquid cultures were massively positive. Rapid identification of the positive mycobacterial culture was performed using an immunochromatographic assay based on the detection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis MPB 64 antigen. The result was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. After review of the medical record, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and gave a positive result for M. tuberculosis complex. Anti-tuberculosis therapy was started immediately and the patient evolved favorably.

Conclusions

Through this case, we showed how the utilisation of MPB64 immunochromatographic assays can provide misleading information due to the variable presence of this protein among the different BCG strains. This case further illustrates the utility of rapid TB complex-specific PCR assays which provide a more reliable identification of all MTBC species.

Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium Induced Pseudoaneurysm of the Common Carotid Artery

An 81-year-old male patient presented with complaint of a pulsating neck mass. The patient had a previous history of cervical lymphadenopathy by non-tuberculous mycobacterium infection. Rapid growth of the mass on admission and contrast enhanced computed tomography of the neck resulted in a diagnosis of non-tuberculous mycobacterium induced pseudoaneurysm. The patient underwent emergency open repair of the pseudoaneurysm. Pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery is regularly reported, but here we report a rare case of non-tuberculous mycobacterium induced pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery.