Muscular pseudotumor revealing a mycobacterial granuloma after bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

Abstract

IntroductionThe Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Intravesical therapy with BCG has long been proved to be effective in treating early-stage bladder carcinoma. Case reportA 81-year-old male patient with former history of BCG instillations for bladder cancer two years ago was admitted in February 2020 to our department for a pulsatile and painful tumefaction of the right thigh that lasted for 6 months, due to a muscular M. bovis granuloma leading to femoral artery erosion. Emergency vascular surgery associated with prolonged antibiotherapy provided full recovery. DiscussionLate infectious complications of intravesical BCG instillations are classical but rare. Isolated muscular involvement is exceptional. ConclusionMycobacterial infection should be carefully screened face to a granuloma presenting as muscular pseudotumor. A history of BCG therapy, even decades earlier, enhances this hypothesis and should lead to enforce microbiological testing, especially molecular test.