Genitourinary tuberculosis: a profile of 55 in-patients.
OBJECTIVE
To outline the pattern and trends in major cases of genito-urinary tuberculosis (GUTB) which require hospital treatment.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 55 patients with proven GUTB who were treated as in-patients in a major referral hospital in Pakistan.


RESULTS
The male/female ratio was 3:1. Prevailing symptoms were lower urinary tract symptoms, flank pain, gross hematuria and fever. A urine culture was positive for tuberculosis (TB) in 57%, bladder biopsies in 54%. For renal TB, intravenous urogram (IVU) and ultrasound were suggestive in about 50% of cases. Ultrasound was very helpful in the diagnosis of testicular TB. Patients underwent surgery in 36% of cases. In contrast to the general trend reported worldwide, surgery was mainly ablative rather than re-constructive. Patient compliance in clinical follow-up and drug therapy was poor.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery for GUTB in Pakistan is still mainly ablative, probably due to a high number of complicated and progressed cases. To date, therapy of GUTB is mainly based on anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy (ATT). However, huge efforts will be required to improve patient compliance without which every therapeutic approach will remain futile.
Buchholz
N P
NP
Department of Surgery (Urology), Aga Khan University, Karachi.
Salahuddin
S
S
Haque
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014401:Tuberculosis, Urogenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery