title: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Section, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. zoccali.giovanni@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zoccali
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marolda
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferraresi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zoccali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines