Tuberculosis complications after BCG treatment for urinary bladder cancer

Medicina (Kaunas). 2012;48(11):563-5.

Abstract

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that has been effectively used in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma. The complications of this treatment are uncommon, and the causes of dissemination are still discussed. We report a case of disseminated tuberculosis in a 66-year-old smoking man without a history of pulmonary diseases, who underwent immunotherapy with BCG after the initial surgical treatment of bladder cancer. After the last BCG instillation, he developed a fever. The diagnosis of sepsis was not confirmed, and miliary pulmonary tuberculosis was suspected. The diagnosis was confirmed by clinical manifestation, computed tomography of the lungs, and histological examination.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • BCG Vaccine / adverse effects*
  • BCG Vaccine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / etiology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine