[Urogenital tuberculosis : current status and future perspectives (author's transl)]

Abstract

Results of a retrospective study of 72 patients with urogenital tuberculosis admitted to Hôpital Cochin Paris, from 1970 to 1980, were compared with those of studies conducted since 1945. Though there has been a marked reduction in the number of cases of tuberculosis in absolute terms, morbidity has not altered as a nephrectomy was performed in 44 p. cent of cases both in the period 1970 to 1980, and the year 1950. There has, however, been a noticeable increase in the use of plastic surgery. Future perspectives involve both the medical and surgical fields, in the former leading to a shorter period (9 months) of treatment, and in the latter by the development of new endoscopic procedures: modelling ureteral sounds, and hydrostatic bladder distention. It is reasonable to assume that surgery will be required less often in the future, medical treatment involving endoscopic procedures being sufficient to treat the majority of urogenital tuberculosis cases.