Urogenital tuberculosis: update and review of 8961 cases from the world literature

Abstract

The AIDS epidemic caused unexpected worldwide levels of tuberculosis, even in developed countries where the incidence used to be low. Patients with urogenital tuberculosis in developed countries have fewer specific symptoms and lower rates of delayed diagnoses compared with patients from other countries. As a result, the disease tends to be less serious, with more patients presenting without significant lesions of the upper urinary tract on diagnosis. These data point to a correlation of the timing of diagnosis with the severity of urogenital tuberculosis. A systematic search for urogenital tuberculosis, regardless of symptoms, is warranted for early detection.

Keywords: Cystitis; Male genital tuberculosis; Nephrectomy; Tuberculosis, renal; Tuberculosis, urogenital; Urinary bladder, surgery.

Figure 1

Tomography showing multiple and bilateral kidney lesions in a patient with AIDS and miliary tuberculosis.

Figure 2

Tomography showing unilateral renal tuberculosis with low-functioning kidney with dilatation of the excretory system.

Figure 3

(A) Intravenous urography with left nonfunctioning kidney. (B) Voiding cystography showing contracted bladder and right vesicoureteral reflux.