Chemotherapeutically induced cutaneous tuberculosis after BCG injection in a patient with pelvic osteosarcoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infection afflicting a multitude of people worldwide. Recently, its prevalence has increased. The incidence of skin involvement generally is low. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that typically is administered as a vaccine to stimulate the immune system when treating some early neoplasms or to guard against tuberculosis.

METHODS:

Case report and literature review.

CASE REPORT:

The authors describe a young man with osteosarcoma of the left hemipelvis who received intradermal BCG injection for immune stimulation prior to surgery. In the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, he developed cutaneous tuberculosis.

CONCLUSION:

It is our opinion that BCG injection should be avoided in all patients requiring surgery, especially in oncologic patients, where the immunodeficiency brought on by chemotherapy predisposes to active opportunistic infection.

• Authors: Giovanni Zoccali, Carlo Cota, Giulio Marolda, Virginia Ferraresi, Maurizio Giuliani, Carmine Zoccali
• Journal: Surgical infections (Surg Infect (Larchmt)) Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 406-8 (Dec 2012) ISSN: 1557-8674 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23240721 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• BCG Vaccine
• Tuberculosis Vaccines

Topics

• Adolescent
• BCG Vaccine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, immunology)
• Bone Neoplasms (immunology, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Mycobacterium bovis (immunology)
• Neoadjuvant Therapy (methods)
• Osteosarcoma (immunology, therapy)
• Pelvic Neoplasms (immunology, therapy)
• Tuberculosis Vaccines (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Tuberculosis, Cutaneous (etiology, immunology)