Bacillus Calmette-Guérin pneumonitis after intravesical instillation: Report of two cases and a review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE:Intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin is standard adjuvant treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. In spite of the fact that this immunotherapy is locoregional, there are still risk of some complications. METHODS:We describe two cases of systemic BCG infection after intravesical administration of BCG vaccine in patients with early stage of bladder cancer. RESULTS:Both patients suffered from systemic BCG infection manifesting as BCG pneumonitis. After standard therapy with antituberculotic agents, both of them fully recovered. CONCLUSION:BCG infection can occur as a rare but potentially serious complication of this treatment procedure. Gravity of this side effect and its specific therapy require prompt and right diagnosis.