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.
Highlights
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been effectively used in the treatment of non-muscleinvasive bladder carcinoma since 1976
Despite the good results of BCG instillation, there are publications reporting the risk of recurrent and progressing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after a long tumor-free period
Most of the BCG immunotherapy-associated symptoms are a result of the immune stimulation that is required to effectively eradicate cancer cells [1]
Summary
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. 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
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