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. 2014 Jul;8(7-8):E540-4.
doi: 10.5489/cuaj.1411.

Complications of intravesical bacillus calmette-guérin

Affiliations

Complications of intravesical bacillus calmette-guérin

Liam C Macleod et al. Can Urol Assoc J. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Computed tomography (CT) scan of a patient with a painful, fluctuant perineal mass after intravesical BCG instillation.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Retrograde urography demonstrating the presence of a pendulous periurethral diverticulum in the area of the perineal mass.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Retrograde urography demonstrating resolution of the periurethral diverticulum following aspiration.

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