Bilateral Granulomatous Renal Masses after Intravesical BCG Therapy for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer and Carcinoma in Situ of the Upper Urinary Tract: A Case Study

Bacillus Calmette-Guèrin (BCG) is commonly used not only as an infant vaccination, but also as a treatment of and prophylaxis to prevent recurrence in the management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, the use of "live" BCG is sometimes complicated by associated infection. We present a case study of a 77-year-old man who developed bilateral renal masses after intravesical BCG therapy was initiated in November 2013, following transurethral resection of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. After four courses of BCG (Japan strain, 80 mg per treatment) instillations, a computed tomography examination for febrile episodes showed multiple bilateral renal masses, accompanied by a histological finding of a granulomatous reaction. An acid fast bacterium was cultured from only urine among blood, urine, and microscopic samples. Using the cultured strain, BCG infection was confirmed by the specific gene deletion pattern based on allele-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis. Anti-tuberculosis treatment, including isoniazid (300 mg/day), rifampicin (600 mg/day), and ethambutol (1,000 mg/day), was started for the BCG-related renal granuloma in February 2014. After 3 months, antibiotic therapy was discontinued owing to severe appetite loss, though the masses remained solid. No rapid growth has been detected after anti-BCG therapy. Intravesical BCG therapy is recommended worldwide as one of standard treatments for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We should closely observe patients undergoing this approach for emerging BCG complications.