Epididymo-orchitis developing as a late manifestation of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy and masquerading as a primary testicular malignancy: a report of 2 cases

Multiparametric ultrasound findings of tuberculous orchitis following bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

Granulomatous bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection, both localized and disseminated, as a complication of intravesical therapy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is a recognized but highly unusual phenomenon. We report the case of an 89-year-old gentleman with a history of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and subsequent intravesical BCG instillation of the bladder who presented to his general practitioner with a non-tender lump in his left testis. Histopathologic and microbiological evaluation of the subsequent orchidectomy specimen revealed granuloma formation secondary to BCG infection. The use of bubble contrast agents and elastography in ultrasound to evaluate focal testicular lesions is a relatively novel concept, and we aim to highlight the imaging features of testicular BCG infection using these techniques.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection following intravesical BCG administration as adjunctive therapy for bladder cancer: incidence, risk factors, and outcome in a single-institution series and review of the literature

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the most effective intravesical immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer. Although generally well tolerated, BCG-related infectious complications may occur following instillation. Much of the current knowledge about this complication comes from single case reports, with heterogeneous diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and no investigation on risk factors for its occurrence. We retrospectively analyzed 256 patients treated with intravesical BCG in our institution during a 6-year period, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months after the last instillation. We also conducted a comprehensive review and pooled analysis of additional cases reported in the literature since 1975. Eleven patients (4.3%) developed systemic BCG infection in our institution, with miliary tuberculosis as the most common form (6 cases). A 3-drug antituberculosis regimen was initiated in all but 1 patient, with a favorable outcome in 9/10 cases. There were no significant differences in the mean number of transurethral resections prior to the first instillation, the time interval between both procedures, the overall mean number of instillations, or the presence of underlying immunosuppression between patients with or without BCG infection. We included 282 patients in the pooled analysis (271 from the literature and 11 from our institution). Disseminated (34.4%), genitourinary (23.4%), and osteomuscular (19.9%) infections were the most common presentations of disease. Specimens for microbiologic diagnosis were obtained in 87.2% of cases, and the diagnostic performances for acid-fast staining, conventional culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays were 25.3%, 40.9%, and 41.8%, respectively. Most patients (82.5%) received antituberculosis therapy for a median of 6.0 (interquartile range: 4.0-9.0) months. Patients with disseminated infection more commonly received antituberculosis therapy and adjuvant corticosteroids, whereas those with reactive arthritis were frequently treated only with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Attributable mortality was higher for patients aged ≥65 years (7.4% vs 2.1%; p = 0.091) and those with disseminated infection (9.9% vs 3.0%; p = 0.040) and vascular involvement (16.7% vs 4.6%; p = 0.064). The scheduled BCG regimen was resumed in only 2 of 36 patients with available data (5.6%), with an uneventful outcome. In the absence of an apparent predictor of the development of disseminated BCG infection after intravesical therapy, and considering the protean variety of clinical manifestations, it is essential to keep a high index of suspicion to initiate adequate therapy promptly and to evaluate carefully the risk-benefit balance of resuming intravesical BCG immunotherapy.

Complications of intravesical bacillus calmette-guérin

Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an important treatment for the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer because of its proven efficacy and favourable safety profile. The most common complications associated with BCG treatment are relatively minor. They include urinary frequency, cystitis, fever, and hematuria. Although serious complications are rare, patients can develop severe, life-threatening sepsis with disseminated mycobacterial infection. We report a rare case of periurethral diverticulum formation after intravesical BCG and review the literature on the potential complications of this treatment modality.

Spectrum of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection after intravesical BCG immunotherapy

Intravesical instillation of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) effectively treats transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Occasionally, BCG infection complicates such treatment. In some patients, infection appears early (within 3 months after instillation) and is characterized by generalized symptoms, with pneumonitis and hepatitis. Late-presentation disease occurs >1 year after the first BCG treatment and usually involves focal infection of the genitourinary tract (the site at which bacteria were introduced) and/or other sites that are typical for reactivation of mycobacterial disease, such as the vertebral spine or the retroperitoneal tissues. Noncaseating granulomas are found in the majority of cases, whether early or late. Most patients respond to treatment with antituberculous drugs; in early-presentation disease, when features of hypersensitivity predominate, glucocorticosteroids are sometimes added. Late localized infection often requires surgical resection.

Preoperative diagnosis of bilateral tuberculous epididymo-orchitis following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy for superficial bladder carcinoma

We report a case of bilateral tuberculous epididymo-orchitis following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for superficial bladder carcinoma in which the diagnosis was made by ultrasonography prior to surgery. The US findings include heterogeneous enlargement of the epididymis and testis, associated with scrotal-skin thickening and scrotal sinus track. Patients with bladder carcinoma treated with intravesical BCG therapy, the presence of scrotal swelling with scrotal-skin thickening and epididymal involvement suggests tuberculous epididymo-orchitis rather than testicular tumour. It is important to be aware of this rare complication and to be familiar with the ultrasonographic features so that appropriate treatment can be given.

Epididymo-orchitis following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of epididymo-orchitis that developed four years after treatment with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and to review the incidence of this adverse effect.

DATA SOURCES

Information about the patient was obtained from the medical chart. A MEDLINE search of English-language literature (from January 1976 to April 1999) was conducted.

STUDY SELECTION

All case reports of BCG-related epididymo-orchitis were evaluated. Review articles describing complications of BCG therapy for bladder cancer and the prevention and treatment of these complications were reviewed.

DATA EXTRACTION

Studies were evaluated for reports of BCG-related epididymo-orchitis and its treatment.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Our case report is compared with others reported in the literature. The incidence of BCG-associated epididymoorchitis is rare.

CONCLUSIONS

Epididymo-orchitis should be considered as a late complication of BCG therapy for bladder cancer. Proper patient selection may help decrease the risk of complications from BCG therapy.

Mycobacterial sepsis following intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) administration for bladder cancer may lead to BCG dissemination in the compromised host. A case of a 63-year-old man with shock secondary to BCG sepsis is reported. The recognition and treatment of disseminated BCG infection are discussed. In addition to standard therapy for urosepsis, early therapy with steroids and coverage with antitubercular medications should be initiated for patients with this condition. In general, the author recommends that all febrile patients who have received BCG immunotherapy within three years, and who have no obvious source for their fever, have acid-fast bacilli blood cultures done for Mycobacterium bovis, and that these patients be admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.