Urethral fistula and perineal collection during intravesical treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer – A rare complication

Abstract

Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has been used as a treatment since 1976. It is effective in reducing disease recurrence and progression, with mostly self-limiting or mild side effects. Serious complications are rare and thought to be either related to systemic BCG infection (BCG-osis) or a systemic inflammatory response, and often require systemic anti-tuberculous therapy. We report a rare case of urethral fistulation leading to perineal BCG-abscess during intravesical BCG immunotherapy for high grade bladder cancer. This ultimately required systemic anti-tuberculous therapy and cessation of intravesical BCG treatment.

Keywords

• Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
• Bladder cancer
• Perineal collection
• Perineal abscess
• BCG complications
• Intravesical BCG